AMSTERDAM – Terrence Boyd is nearly set for a return to Germany, with a medical exam and a few finishing touches on a three-year deal left to complete an impending move from Rapid Vienna to ambitious 2.Bundesliga outfit Red Bull Leipzig.
While Rapid announced the transfer via their official website on Monday afternoon, the Red Bulls have declined to comment at this time. However, Boyd's agent told MLSsoccer.com that the deal should be finalized within a couple of days.
The 23-year-old forward picked Red Bull Leipzig over competing interest from Lisbon-based Sporting Clube de Portugal and English Championship club Wigan Athletic. Boyd also had domestic interest from league champions Red Bull Salzburg earlier in the summer, but sources close to the club confirmed to MLSsoccer.com that the Bremen-born US international insisted he would not play for any other Austrian Bundesliga side and that he felt it was time to try his luck in a more challenging league.
"I want to thank Rapid and numerous fans for two outstanding years," Boyd said in a statement on the Rapid website. "Unfortunately, it did not come with a title win, but my time in this very special club was hugely important and beautiful to me. The decision to leave was not easy, because I have always felt very comfortable here, both in the club and in the city. A part of my heart will always remain green and white."
Boyd, who had but one season left on his Rapid deal, banged home a career-high 20 goals for the silver medalists this past season. In his two seasons, he tallied 37 times and added 13 assists in 80 matches across all competitions for the capital crew, including an American-record eight goals in Europa League play.
He joins the German edition of the Red Bulls, who have charged their way into the second flight in just five years since taking over fifth-flight mites SSV Markranstädt. New York's cousins in Leipzig have won promotion in consecutive seasons and three times since the ownership change.
Looking to continue their stampede all the way the Bundesliga, RB Leipzig have been busy in the summer transfer market. In addition to Boyd's impending capture, they have also added his young Rapid teammate, Marcel Sabitzer, and Stuttgart holding midfielder Rani Khedira, the 20-year-old brother of Real Madrid star Sami.
Once the transfer is finalized, Boyd can get to work with his new teammates, who have a tall task in July friendlies with Getafe, Paris Saint-Germain and Queens Park Rangers. Red Bull Leipzig will kick off the new 2.Bundesliga season with an August 2 visit from Aalen.
