Benjamin Sesko joins Manchester United as the club’s new focal point in attack. The Slovenian forward arrives after a long pursuit that finally came to fruition.
Who is Benjamin Sesko?
Born in Radece, Slovenia, on May 31, 2003, Benjamin Sesko is a right-footed center forward standing 195 cm tall and weighing 85 kg. With a market value of around €70 million, he has quickly become one of Europe’s most promising strikers.
Sesko began his career at NK Krsko, where he played from 2010 to 2018, before moving to NK Domzale’s U-17 side. Just a year later, Salzburg signed him for €2.5 million, immediately loaning him to FC Liefering for two seasons.
In 2021, he returned from his successful loan and became a first-team regular for Salzburg, playing a key role in the 2022/23 season with 16 goals and 3 assists in 37 games. Following that impressive campaign, he joined RB Leipzig in 2023 for €24 million, quickly establishing himself as the team’s main striker. Over the last two seasons, he achieved the remarkable feat of being the only player to score in seven consecutive Bundesliga matches since the 1982/83 season.
After his exploits in Germany and consistent goal-scoring ability, Manchester United secured his services to lead their attack. This season will show how well he adapts to English football and how he integrates into Ruben Amorim’s system.
A Hard-Working Striker
Sesko is a versatile and well-rounded forward. His main strengths are his acceleration and agility, his dominance in aerial duels (helped by his height), and his ability to both score and create goals.
His main weaknesses include a relatively low dribbling success rate, which can make him appear slightly clumsy in tight situations, and a limited number of touches in the opposition box. The latter is partly due to Leipzig’s counterattacking style, which prioritizes quick transitions over sustained pressure in the penalty area.
As mentioned, he is particularly strong in aerial battles, ranking sixth among Bundesliga strikers with a 49.32% success rate. While Manchester United are not a team that frequently relies on long balls—preferring quick combinations to beat the press—Sesko can still be a valuable outlet when play becomes congested. His movement into wide areas can also create central space for onrushing teammates.
Another standout quality is his Bundesliga goal-scoring rate, placing him 11th in the league with an average of 0.46 goals per game. At United, whose team average is 1.04 goals per match, Sesko has the potential to raise that figure and offer a consistent, self-sufficient goal threat.
Compared to other Bundesliga strikers, Sesko ranks 11th in overall performance. He is not just a finisher; he is a mobile forward who drops deep, links play, and creates space for others to exploit.
In Constant Motion
His heatmap illustrates his presence across the final third. He is not a traditional penalty-box striker; instead, he frequently drops into deeper areas to get on the ball and link attacks. While 90% of his appearances for Leipzig came as a center forward, he also spent about 10% of his time in more withdrawn midfield roles.
He often drifts wide to combine with teammates, using his physicality to hold up the ball and create space for others to run into. In a Manchester United side with players like Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, who thrive on exploiting defensive gaps, Sesko’s movement could help unlock their full attacking potential.
Transfer and Contract Details
Manchester United have signed Sesko for approximately €76.5 million plus €8.5 million in add-ons, bringing the total potential fee to €85 million. His contract runs until 2030.
The Slovenian’s annual salary will rise from €5.6 million at Leipzig to around €9.6 million at United, making him the club’s eighth-highest-paid player.
Comparison with Hojlund and Zirkzee
When compared to United’s other two striker options—Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee—Sesko outperforms both in almost every key attacking metric, with the exception of offensive duels won.
In terms of style, he shares similarities with both, dropping deep and attacking space while contributing heavily to the press. However, he offers an extra edge in speed, which could make him particularly dangerous in transition.
The Striker United Need?
Manchester United have been searching for a long-term solution up front, and Benjamin Sesko could be the player to finally end the club’s “number 9” struggles.
Whether he becomes the leader of United’s attack or follows the path of other high-profile signings who failed to meet expectations will be one of the most intriguing storylines of the season.
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