LEIPZIG, Germany ( Associated Press) — Timo Werner returned to Leipzig, Germany, after two seasons in which he failed to make much of an impact with Chelsea.
The striker for the German national team and two clubs confirmed the transfer on Tuesday. Werner was not called up for Saturday’s match against Everton in the Premier League.
“Today my time at Chelsea FC is coming to an end,” Werner said in a message to the London club’s fans. “I felt so much love and support over the past two years. I will never forget how he stood by me in good times and bad times.”
Werner scored 95 goals in 159 games in his first four seasons with Leipzig. He also scored 24 goals in 59 matches for the national team.
But he never again validated his goal-scoring skills at Chelsea, where he became famous for wasting many chances to score.
Overall he added just 10 goals in the Premier League in two seasons, although he was instrumental in Chelsea’s Champions League victory in 2021 by scoring against Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
Chelsea paid Leipzig £50m ($60m) for Werner in 2020 and the British press estimated the Germans spent half the amount to get him back.
“Timo is a phenomenal striker,” said Leipzig manager Christopher Vivel. “He is quick and a good finisher. It will give another level to our attack and make us more unpredictable.”
Chelsea also saw Romelu Lukaku leave for Inter on loan and are now short of strikers. Manager Thomas Tuchel put on Raheem Sterling as Chelsea beat Everton 1-0, but said he would like to sign more Raiders before the transfer book is closed.
