Poulsen extends contract with RB Leipzig until 2026

Denmark striker Yussuf Poulsen on Tuesday extended his stay at RB Leipzig by two years until 2026 on the eve of the German's club's Champions League match against Red Star Belgrade.

Poulsen joined Leipzig as a 19-year-old when the side were still in Germany's third division in 2013.

The Dane, now 29, was part of the side promoted to the second division in 2014 and the Bundesliga in 2016. He has become the side's record appearance holder, with 370 games, scoring 85 goals.

Poulsen said in a statement he and the Saxon club had "grown up together".

"I was basically just a young lad still when I came to Leipzig in 2013.

"It was a new country, a new language and a new team for me. What's happened since is pretty crazy.

"We've had two promotions, played in the Champions League and, to top it all off, we’ve won two German Cup titles in recent years."

Leipzig manager Marco Rose said Poulsen's time with the club had been "an unbelievable story."

"Yussi is someone who represents the club. He fully relates to the team and to Leipzig as a city," he told a press conference before Wednesday's match against Red Star Belgrade.

"He's come a long way since he's been here... We're happy that he'll be staying for a bit longer."

Copenhagen-born Poulsen has played 72 matches for Denmark, scoring 11 goals and with the Danes on track to qualify for Euro 2024 will be hoping to represent his country in Germany next year.