Timo Werner

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Werner's journey at Leipzig began on 11 June 2016, when he signed a four-year contract for €10 million. He wasted no time, becoming the youngest player to reach 100 Bundesliga matches just months after his debut, breaking Julian Draxler's record by 22 days. The 2016–17 season was historic: Werner finished as the leading German goalscorer with 21 goals and helped Leipzig qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history. In March 2018, he became the youngest player to reach 150 Bundesliga appearances, eclipsing Charly Körbel's long-standing record that same month when he scored the winner against Bayern Munich in a 2–1 victory. His goal-scoring consistency was remarkable. On 7 October 2018, he netted his 50th Bundesliga goal in a 6–0 rout of 1. FC Nürnberg, Leipzig's biggest-ever win. A month later, he recorded his tenth competitive brace against Hertha BSC. By December, every time he scored that season, it resulted in a brace. In August 2019, he notched his first league hat-trick against Borussia Mönchengladbach, followed by another against Mainz where he scored three and assisted three in an 8–0 demolition. On 23 November 2019, he became the youngest ever player to reach 200 Bundesliga appearances.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere crackled on 30 August 2019 when Werner produced his first Bundesliga hat-trick against Borussia Mönchengladbach in a 3–1 away victory. Just weeks later, on 5 October, he reached his 100th league appearance for the club during a 1–1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. The defining moment of his Leipzig career arrived early the following month. In an 8–0 thrashing of Mainz, Werner scored three goals and provided three assists, guiding the team to their biggest-ever win in the competition. His final act as a Leipzig player occurred on 27 June 2020. In a 2–1 win away to Augsburg, he scored both goals for his side. This double secured his place in history, pushing his total to 95 goals and officially overtaking Daniel Frahn to become the club's record goalscorer.

Reader's Guide

Timo Werner's time at RB Leipzig (2016–2020) serves as a blueprint for developing elite talent within the Bundesliga. His arrival marked a shift where the club could compete with traditional powerhouses, evidenced by his role in securing Champions League qualification in his debut season. Key to understanding this era is recognizing Werner's statistical dominance: he became the youngest player to reach 150 and 200 Bundesliga appearances, records that stood as testaments to his durability and speed. Fans should note specific milestones: the 6–0 win over Nürnberg where he hit his 50th league goal, and the 8–0 victory against Mainz featuring a three-goal, three-assist performance. His departure in 2020 was a significant moment, with him leaving as the club's all-time top scorer after 95 goals. The narrative of this period is one of rapid ascent; Leipzig went from promotion to Champions League contenders largely due to Werner's pace and finishing, setting a high-water mark for future attackers at the Red Bull Arena.

Did You Know?

• Werner became the youngest player in Bundesliga history to score two goals in a single game when he netted a brace against SC Freiburg on 10 November.
• He is the first and only player to become RB Leipzig's all-time top scorer with 95 career goals for the club.
• During the 2016–17 season, Werner finished as the leading German goalscorer in the Bundesliga with 21 goals.
• Werner won the Golden Boot at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, scoring more than any other player in the tournament.
• In an 8–0 victory over Mainz on 4 May 2019, Werner scored three goals and provided three assists, marking one of his most dominant single-match performances.

Rapid Rise and Record-Breaking Youth

Born in Stuttgart on 6 March 1996 to Günther Schuh and Sabine Werner, Timo Werner joined VfB Stuttgart's academy in 2002. His ascent was rapid; promoted to the U-19 team at age 16 during the 2012–13 season, he scored 24 goals and won the Gold U-17 Fritz Walter Medal. He made his senior debut later that year against Botev Plovdiv in a UEFA Europa League qualifier, becoming Stuttgart's youngest ever official player at 17 years, four months, and 25 days. He quickly followed this by becoming the club's youngest Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal participant and youngest goalscorer against Eintracht Frankfurt. On 10 November, he scored a brace in a 3–1 win over SC Freiburg, becoming the youngest player in Bundesliga history to score two goals in one game. By his 50th league appearance, he held the record for youngest to reach that milestone until Kai Havertz broke it in 2018.

Dominance at RB Leipzig

Werner joined RB Leipzig on 11 June 2016 for a then-club-record €10 million. He immediately set records, becoming the youngest to reach 100 Bundesliga appearances on 26 September 2016 against 1. FC Köln. In the 2016–17 season, he led German goalscorers with 21 strikes and secured Leipzig's first-ever Champions League qualification. On 4 May 2019, he became the first player to score 50 Bundesliga goals for the club. His offensive output included a hat-trick against Borussia Mönchengladbach on 30 August 2019 and another in an 8–0 win over Mainz where he also provided three assists. He became the youngest ever player to reach 200 Bundesliga appearances on 23 November 2019. In his final match for Leipzig on 27 June 2020, he scored both goals in a 2–1 victory over Augsburg, finishing with 95 career goals for the club and overtaking Daniel Frahn as the all-time top scorer.

International Success and Golden Boot

Werner was a prolific scorer for Germany at youth levels, netting 34 goals in 48 appearances across various age groups. He made his senior debut in 2017 and quickly became instrumental in national success. His standout achievement came at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, where he won the Golden Boot as the tournament's highest goalscorer, helping Germany secure the title. He subsequently represented Germany at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2020, carrying the expectations of a nation that viewed him as a key offensive weapon during these major tournaments.

Global Journey from Chelsea to MLS

After leaving Leipzig in 2020 for €50 million to join Chelsea, Werner won the UEFA Champions League in his first season. He returned to RB Leipzig on 9 August 2022 for a reported fee of £25.3 million, scoring his 100th and 101st goals for the club in all competitions by October 2022. Following an ankle injury that ruled him out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he continued to score, including his 100th Bundesliga goal on 15 April 2023 against Augsburg. His career later saw a loan to Tottenham Hotspur in January 2024 and eventually a move to Major League Soccer, where he plays for the San Jose Earthquakes.