Christopher Nkunku has sent an emotional farewell message to RB Leipzig after the 25-year-old was confirmed as joining Chelsea in a major transfer this summer.
After finishing his international duty for the season with France, Nkunku was announced as a new player for Mauricio Pochettino, months after agreeing to join the club.
Having carried out a medical with the Blues shortly after the close of the summer window last year, the Bundesliga top scorer for 2022/23 is now on his way to London to partner with Pochettino ahead of the new season.
In a message to the fans appearing in the statement on Chelsea's website, Nkunku wrote: "I am incredibly happy to be joining Chelsea. A big effort was made to bring me to the club and I am looking forward to meeting my new coach and teammates and showing the Chelsea supporters what I can do on the pitch.
"Having played in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga, I now want to play in the Premier League, one of the strongest leagues in the world. I am very excited for this challenge and will be proud to wear the Chelsea shirt."
Now, after four years in Leipzig, Chelsea have received a message from the German side. In a post on Instagram, RB Leipzig wrote: "From the Red Bulls [red circle emoji] to the Blues! [blue circle emoji]."
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Meanwhile the Red Bull gaming group responded: "All the best for you, Christo [sad face emoji, red heart emoji]," and also, "Don't want to like this post [crying emoji]." Red Bull football said: "Thanks for all the goals [red heart emoji]. All the best in your new chapter."
The club also posted an image of the player doing his trademark celebration with a balloon being blown up. They also posted another message, writing: "Pure baller [football emoji]. Good luck @Chelseafc." Red Bull football then responded: "Unique player."
A third post of Nkunku was also sent with a video of his best moments as a player. It starts with his announcement video as he says: "I'm Christopher Nkunku, I am happy to be in Leipzig." It also adds in a recent message of him saying: "I came to Leipzig as a young talent with big goals and high hopes. With RB Leipzig I grew, I became a better player, I became a better person, I made friends, I found a family.
"We challenged the biggest clubs in the world. It's been a time full of success and in the end we wrote history. Thank you for everything."
He also added in a video posted on the club's story: "Hi fans, I wanted to say thank you, I will miss you and I love you from the bottom of my heart."
In a final farewell to the club, he wrote: "After 4 years under the colors of the @rbleipzig it’s time for me to say goodbye.
"I will never forget all those incredible moments and emotions that we lived together. From our Champions League semi-final, to our two titles in DFB Pokal, and also some incredible bundesliga matches.
"I will take all these wonderful memories with me and I can’t thank you enough for the love you have shared with me. I would also like to thank my teammates, the staff members and all the people who make this club live.
"I have grown a lot here as a player, but also as a man, and I will always be grateful to you."
He scored 70 times in 172 games for Leipzig included 16 league goals in 25 games this season to finish as top scorer despite an injury hit campaign. His stellar 2021/22 season saw him notch 20 goals and 15 assists in just 34 games as he rose to European prominence.
He scored and assisted in his last game for the club, a win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the German cup final. It was the second trophy of his time there after also winning the same competition in 2022.
