Leipzig (dpa/sn) - Max Eberl performed his first official act as sports director of the Bundesliga soccer club RB Leipzig with the extension of Mohamed Simakan's contract. The contract of the French centre-back, who was last used primarily on the right-hand side of defense due to Lukas Klostermann's absence due to injury, has been extended by a year until June 30, 2027. This was announced by the German cup winner on Tuesday.
"Mo Simakan is a player who has already made a great development at RB Leipzig and, at just 22 years old, has a lot of potential to become even stronger. He has accepted his new role on the right defensive flank excellently. He shows both his defensive and offensive strengths and underlines his flexibility. We are all the more pleased that we can extend the contract early," said Eberl about the extension.
"When I came to RB Leipzig a year and a half ago, it was a big step for me," said the versatile defender, who came from Racing Strasbourg in the summer of 2021. "I felt very comfortable here from day one and was well received. We have achieved a lot in 2022 and I'm looking forward to everything that is to come," emphasized the Frenchman.
Simakan played 19 of the 24 games until the winter break this season, 18 of them from the start. In the Champions League he scored four points (one goal, three assists). He was also named "Man of the Match" in Saxony's 3-2 win over Real Madrid. He also played his part in winning the cup, was in the starting XI in all six matches on the way to the final and in the final up to the 113th minute on the pitch at the Berlin Olympic Stadium.
