Manchester United have completed the signing of Benjamin Sesko, despite paying less than what Newcastle United offered.
Newcastle United’s transfer window keeps on getting worse and the latest blow landed on Saturday when it was finally confirmed that Benjamin Sesko has signed for Manchester United.
Fans urged Newcastle to move on from Sesko days ago but the club continued to battle for the striker until the end.
Sesko becomes the third player Man Utd have beaten Newcastle to, following the earlier signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
However, Sesko stings the most as Newcastle actually offered more than Man U to RB Leipzig.
Now that the full transfer fee has been confirmed, Newcastle are bound to feel even worse.
- Get to know Benjamin Sesko… The ‘top-class’ striker Newcastle United lost out on to Man Utd
How much less did Manchester United pay for Benjamin Sesko than Newcastle United offered
Man United have paid an initial £66.26m to sign Sesko from RB Leipzig, though the fee could potentially rise as high as £73.62m if certain bonus clauses are met.
In a cruel twist of fate, that transfer fee comes in lower than what Newcastle offered the Bundesliga side.
Newcastle’s total package for Sesko would have amounted to around £78m, £4m more than Man Utd will eventually pay, according to The Times.
It’s also understood that Sesko was offered a bigger wage packet at St. James’ Park but still opted to move to Man Utd, who don’t even have Champions League football to offer this season.
Sesko has explained that the ‘exciting’ project under Ruben Amorim and the history of Man Utd were key to his decision.
On X, formerly Twitter, Man U’s official account even made a dig at Newcastle by saying ‘it was only ever United.’
Benjamin Sesko stats vs Yoane Wissa
In some rare good news for Newcastle, it does appear that they are edging closer to signing Yoane Wissa for £35m.
Wissa didn’t play in Brentford’s friendly on Friday night and his representatives have travelled to the UK to finalise a switch.
Though Sesko is obviously younger and has a higher ceiling, Wissa enjoyed the better season in 2024-25. In a much tougher league, too.
Sesko had an underwhelming Bundesliga campaign last term with just 13 goals in 33 games, 24.5% of Leipzig’s 53 goals.
Though his total of 21 goals, with four further strikes in each of the Champions League and DFB-Pokal, makes for better reading, it’s still not blowaway fantastic.
Wissa, meanwhile, scored 19 in 35 Premier League games, 33.3% of Brentford’s total strikes, as well as picking up five assists.
That proven quality for half the price of Sesko could make him a better signing, especially as it means Newcastle have now told Alexander Isak he will not be sold.
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