Openda, De Bruyne and the Bundesliga's Belgian Seven

Loïs Openda

Arriving at RB Leipzig on a five-year contracht from Lens just last summer to replace the previous term's Bundesliga Player of the Season Christopher Nkunku, forward Openda enjoyed a spectaular start to life in the Bundesliga. The 24-year-old weighed in with an incredible 31 goal involvements (24 goals, seven assists) in his very first season in Germany. In what was a hyper-competitive race for top-scorer honours in 2023/24, the Liège-born striker ended third behind Bayern Munich's Harry Kane (36 goals) and Serhou Guirassy (28) of Stuttgart in the goal charts and he won praise from near and far in his role in helping Die Roten Bullen to a fourth-placed Bundesliga finish.

Boasting the record of the highest-scoring Belgian in a single Bundesliga season - overtaking compatriot Emile Mpenza's previous best mark - Openda said he feels right at home at Leipzig and is looking forward to leading the team's challenge on the domestic front and in Europe after UEFA Euro 2024. "Since the first day, it felt perfect for me at the club," the striker told Leipzig's official website. "The club, the team and the entire staff put me in a good condition to perform on a high level. Everything here is set to maximize the talent of all players. It's really important for me to feel good and to feel like I am at home. If everything is set up around me, I think I can do just what I'm doing now. And I know that I can do more for sure."

Watch: The best of Loïs Openda