A significant change is underway in German football as veteran striker Yussuf Poulsen transitions from RB Leipzig to Hamburger SV. The move, confirmed on Sunday evening, marks the end of a twelve-year tenure for Poulsen at Leipzig and signals a new chapter with the Bundesliga promotion hopefuls.
Hamburger SV expressed immense excitement regarding the signing. “There are few words needed to describe Yussuf Poulsen” stated HSV board member Stefan Kuntz. “He is a face of the Bundesliga, possessing invaluable experience and maturity. He has witnessed firsthand the spectrum of professional football. Having been instrumental in Leipzig’s journey from the third division to the Champions League, he understands the demands following a promotion – the imperative to maintain stability and establish a long-term presence in the Bundesliga. We anticipate he will bring these crucial experiences and his leadership qualities to the team.
Poulsen, visibly enthusiastic about joining Hamburger SV, shared his personal connection to the club. “Hamburger SV is a fantastic club. The first international match I ever watched was between FC Copenhagen and Hamburger SV in the UEFA Cup. I’ve always hoped to see HSV return to the Bundesliga soon and I know firsthand the incredible euphoria a promotion can generate.
Poulsen’s professional career began at Danish club Lyngby BK in 2011/12, where he made his debut at the age of 17. He joined RB Leipzig in the summer of 2013, then a third-division club. Within a short period, he played a vital role in their ascent, leading the club to promotion to the second division in 2014 and subsequently to the Bundesliga in 2016.
Since 2016, Poulsen amassed an impressive 233 Bundesliga appearances, contributing 49 goals and 27 assists. He also celebrated two DFB-Pokal victories with RB Leipzig and featured 41 times in the Champions League, scoring two goals and providing six assists.
