Manchester United Introduced, Benjamin Sesko: The Club's History Is Truly Special, But...

Manchester United unveils new striker Benjamin Sesko and other players. (X/@ManUtd)

JAKARTA - Manchester United officially signed striker Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. At his unveiling, Sesko described Manchester United as a club with a very special history.

Sesko is the latest player to be brought in by Manchester United. Previously, Manchester United signed Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Diego Leon. They were unveiled ahead of Manchester United's friendly against Fiorentina at Old Trafford Stadium on Saturday, August 10, 2025, WIB.

The fans welcomed Sesko and his teammates with a standing ovation. Fans hoped the new players could revive Manchester United, which had suffered a severe slump last season.

Sesko joined Manchester United for nearly £74 million. This includes bonuses based on player performance, including Sesko's achievements with the Red Devils.

Manchester United successfully beat Newcastle United, who were also keen to sign Sesko. Arsenal had previously listed the 22-year-old striker as a transfer target. However, after acquiring Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal quickly forgot about Sesko.

Next, Manchester United entered into fierce competition with Newcastle. Both teams offered the same price with different payment structures. Newcastle even made a more attractive offer, which Leipzig accepted.

However, Sesko chose to join Manchester United despite missing out on Champions League football.

Yes, Manchester United missed out on European competition this season. As a result, Ruben Amorim's team suffered a slump and nearly suffered relegation. Manchester United had actually reached the Europa League final, opening up a chance to play in this season's Champions League if they won.

However, they lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur, and their hopes of playing in Europe were dashed.

Despite this, Sesko still chose Manchester United over Newcastle, who played in Europe's top tier. Sesko's reasoning was simple.

"Manchester United's history is truly special. But what made me want to join was the future of this club, which I'm very excited about," Sesko told The Sun.

"When we discussed the club's project, it was clear that this team was the right place for a player who wanted to continue developing. This team also wanted to compete for major trophies," he added.

Sesko admitted he was delighted to finally join Manchester United, despite the transfer saga that had been involved. Manchester United and Newcastle were in fierce competition for him. The Slovenian national team striker immediately felt the positive energy and family atmosphere at his new club.

"From the moment I arrived, I could feel the positive energy, and the club really creates a family-like environment. This is the perfect place to fulfill my ambitions," said the striker, who scored 13 goals in 33 appearances in the German Bundesliga last season.

Meanwhile, Amorim said Sesko has an extraordinary work ethic. The coaching staff even asked him to stop training.

The 22-year-old striker's playing style also fits the team, making Sesko a mainstay in Manchester United's attack.

"He has the characteristics we need. We even asked him to stop training. We don't want him to overtrain. This is also important," said Amorim.

At Manchester United, Sesko has a long-term five-year contract. He receives a weekly salary of £160,000, or approximately 3.5 billion rupiah. His salary will increase to £200,000, or 4.3 billion rupiah, if he leads Manchester United to qualify for the 2026/2027 Champions League.