Leo Querfeld leaves Rapid for Union Berlin

The deal has been finalised: Leopold Querfeld, who is currently with the Austrian national team and taking part in UEFA EURO 2024, is the next of SK Rapid's youth products to make the move to the German Bundesliga for the coming season. The 20-year-old centre-back will join 1. FC Union Berlin, making him the second Rapid player to move from Hütteldorf to Köpenick after Christopher Trimmel, who has now been with the 'Irons' for a decade.

Leopold Querfeld wore the Rapid jersey for over twelve years and had a model career in the Green & White youth academy. He made his debut in the second division as a 16-year-old in October 2020 under the then coaching team of Franz Maresch & Steffen Hofmann, and just under a year later he had his first experience with the senior side, playing under coach Didi Kühbauer in a European Cup match against Dinamo Zagreb. In total, the tall centre-back made 42 appearances for Rapid II in Austria's second-tier and 71 competitive matches (scoring 4 goals) for the first team. He has also played 20 youth internationals for Austria and two for the senior team, most recently appearing in the 2-1 home win against Serbia at the Ernst Happel Stadium just a few days ago.

Now, around twelve months before the end of his contract, the model athlete, who was born on 20 December 2003 and graduated from the Green & White cooperation school AHS Wien West last year, is taking the step to move to one of Europe's top divisions, a move that many experts have been waiting for.

Thoughts on the transfer

Managing Director of Sport Markus Katzer commented on the departure of Querfeld: "It looked highly likely that Leo would take the next step in his career this summer. His contract extension a year ago, which hardly seemed possible due to the short remaining term, was one of the first major challenges during my time in office. The fact that this was successful was pleasing and was vindicated by 'Querli' having a brilliant season. He is an exceptionally professional athlete with a strong personality and has always communicated openly with us about his career plan. I am convinced that he will also succeed in the German Bundesliga and wish him all the best, both personally and on behalf of our club. Of course, we would all have liked to see him stay with us for longer and extend his contract again, but we have already strengthened our centre-back position for a reason. In addition, Leopold Querfeld's move to the German Bundesliga is a confirmation of our philosophy, namely to train the greatest home-grown talents with us and to enable them to make the leap into one of the top 5 leagues in Europe via our professional team."

Managing Director of SK Rapid Steffen Hofmann added: "It was a masterstroke that we managed to extend the contract with Leopold Querfeld in February 2023 so shortly before it expired. He is a role model for our young players and has made his way into one of Europe's top leagues with us thanks to great discipline and extraordinary ambition. Leo is still fundamentally a very young player, but he has an enormously mature personality and I am convinced that he will continue to improve in all areas and celebrate many successes at club and national team level. It has been a pleasure for me to work with Leo in various roles and he will of course always be very welcome here in the future."

Leopold Querfeld himself said: "A decisive and formative period in my life is now coming to an end with my move to 1. FC Union Berlin. I am very grateful for my time at SK Rapid and will of course remain a Green & White player at heart. I would like to thank all my companions, fellow players, coaches, trainers and staff for their training and support over the last twelve years. I have tried to give the maximum for my club in every minute and it was important to me to do this until the last minute of the last game. Now, a new chapter begins, which I look forward to with great excitement and confidence. I have already been able to fulfil a childhood dream in recent years: I will never forget playing for my club, especially in Hütteldorf in front of my own fans. I would also like to say a special thank you to the Rapid fans. It was always very special for me to be able to represent our colours in front of this crowd. I hope that I will be remembered fondly and that some people will continue to keep their fingers crossed for me and follow my career. Leaving SK Rapid and my hometown is not an easy step to make, but I’m excited to be able to join another extraordinary club in one of the strongest leagues in the world. I will keep watching out for how my home club is getting on, and I wish the whole Rapid family, in particular my former teammates, trainers and supporters, all the best for the future.