LEEDS UNITED COMPLETE MAX WOBER DEAL - Leedsunited.com 3/1/23
Leeds United are delighted to announce the signing of Max Wober from Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg for an undisclosed fee, subject to a work permit.
The 24-year-old becomes the club’s first signing of the
January transfer window and he has penned a four-and-a-half year deal at Elland
Road, running until the summer of 2027.
An Austrian international with 13 caps to his name, Wober
can operate at both left-back and centre-back.
Coming through the ranks with Rapid Vienna, he went onto
make 24 appearances for the club in the Austrian Bundesliga, Austrian Cup and
UEFA Europa League, before being snapped up by Dutch giants Ajax in August 2017
and was handed his international debut later that year.
He made 16 outings for the Amsterdam outfit during the
2018/19 campaign in which they won the league and cup double, before being
snapped up by Spanish side Sevilla in January 2019 on loan, with a compulsory
buyout at the end of the season.
Wober’s stint at Sevilla was ended after eight months
though, when Jesse Marsch, head coach of Red Bull Salzburg made him the
Austrian Bundesliga’s most expensive signing ever in August 2019.
During the past three-and-a-half years at the Red Bull
Arena, Wober has won the Austrian League and Cup double three times in a row.
Overall at Salzburg, he made 125 appearances, scoring nine
goals, including one in last year’s Austrian Cup final victory against SV Ried.
He now links up once again with head coach Marsch at Leeds,
along with his former Red Bull Salzburg teammates Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus
Kristensen.
Wober will wear the number 39 shirt during his time at Leeds
and could feature for the first time in Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie at
Cardiff City.
New Leeds United signing Max Wober spoke exclusively to LUTV
after signing for the Whites.
The 24-year-old has penned a four-and-a-half year deal at
Elland Road, running until the summer of 2027.
The Austrian international has joined from Red Bull Salzburg
for an undisclosed fee and can’t wait to get going in West Yorkshire.
“It’s a massive challenge for me,” said Wober.
“I’ve already seen a lot, I’ve played for Ajax and Sevilla
along with three-and-a-half years with Salzburg.
“Coming now to Leeds, a club with such a big history and
tradition is definitely something special and was always a dream for me growing
up, arriving at Elland Road feels amazing.
“Some of my biggest strengths are my personality and
character, I’m never going to give up on the pitch, I will leave it all out
there, it doesn’t matter what score it is or if we are winning or losing, I’ll
give everything for this badge.
“I have to work hard to get into the team and play well to
get accepted in the dressing room and try to grow with every opportunity I get.
“I will play wherever the team needs me, it doesn’t matter
if it is left-back, centre-back or as a number six, I’m fine with everything
and will give my best.
“I’m experienced at playing as a left-back and I really like
it, especially being more offensive.”
Wober will also link up with a number of former teammates at
Leeds and he believes that will be a positive as he adapts to life in the
Premier League.
He said: “I’ve spoken to Rasmus Kristensen, he asked if I
was following him again after spending time together at Ajax and Salzburg. We were neighbours at our old clubs and now
we will be neighbours again.
“One of the most difficult parts about coming to a new club
is feeling comfortable and settled and it is always easy when you have
connecting points.
“I know what Jesse Marsch wants and having played with
Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus will help me get connected to the team quicker.”
