Official | Peter Gulacsi leaves German football after 11-year RB Leipzig era

Peter Gulacsi’s lengthy association with German football has officially concluded after the veteran goalkeeper completed a transfer from RB Leipzig to Villarreal. The Hungarian international spent 11 seasons with the German Red Bulls, representing RB in both the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga.

The 36-year-old has signed a contract with the Champions League participants through 2028. Get German Football News reported last week that Gulácsi’s move to Spain was taking shape before Fabrizio Romano subsequently indicated that Villarreal would pay Leipzig approximately €2m.

Gulácsi departs after 11 years, 362 competitive appearances, and two DFB-Pokal titles with the Saxon club. His 269 Bundesliga appearances make him one of the defining players in Leipzig’s brief top-flight history.

The 58-time Hungarian international is expected to compete with Luiz Júnior for Villarreal’s starting position. The Spanish club finished third in La Liga last season and will offer Gulácsi another opportunity to play Champions League football.

Gulacsi accompanied Leipzig from 2. Bundesliga to Champions League

Gulacsi joined Leipzig from Red Bull Salzburg in 2015, while the club still competed in Germany’s second division.

Initially required to work behind Fabio Coltorti, the Budapest native claimed the starting position during the second half of the promotion campaign. Leipzig reached the Bundesliga in 2016, and Gulacsi subsequently established himself as the club’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper.

The Hungarian helped Leipzig qualify regularly for European competition and featured during the club’s run to the 2019/20 Champions League semi-finals. He later lifted the DFB-Pokal in both 2022 and 2023.

Gulacsi’s Leipzig career nevertheless contained a major interruption. An anterior cruciate ligament tear suffered against Celtic in October 2022 kept him out for almost one year.

Gulacsi temporarily lost his regular place and was linked with a move to Major League Soccer. He still completed his recovery, reclaimed Leipzig’s starting role, and ultimately remained while Blaswich was sold to Bayer Leverkusen.

Gulacsi overcame further competition and injury concerns

Gulacsi entered last season facing another succession battle. Highly rated Belgian goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt had been recruited as Leipzig’s long-term number one.

Ole Werner nevertheless confirmed in August that Gulácsi had retained the Bundesliga starting position following a close preseason competition.

The veteran continued to demonstrate his value, though his final years in Germany also featured difficult moments. A serious aerial collision with Holstein Kiel defender David Zec left Gulácsi briefly unconscious and requiring hospital treatment in April 2025. Get German Football News covered the concussion and subsequent medical updates.

By the winter of 2025/26, Gulácsi remained Leipzig’s first choice despite several costly errors, as noted in GGFN‘s January transfer primer.

Leipzig even extended Gulácsi’s contract through 2027 in February. Vandevoordt eventually displaced him in April, however, completing the succession plan that had been in development for several years.

Gulácsi returned for what proved to be a farewell appearance on the final Bundesliga matchday. His move allows him to pursue regular football elsewhere rather than remain as Vandevoordt’s deputy.

Statements on Peter Gulacsi’s departure

“RB Leipzig was never just a club for me,” Gulacsi said. “Leipzig became a second home for my family and me, and the people here will always have a special place in our hearts.

“I leave Leipzig with great gratitude, much pride, and many emotions,” Gulacsi continued. “RB Leipzig and this city will always remain a part of me.”

“You could always rely on Pete—in major matches, during difficult periods, and in our daily work together,” Leipzig managing director for sport Marcel Schäfer added.

“Of course, it isn’t easy for us to allow a player and person like Pete to leave,” Schäfer continued. “At the same time, gratitude, respect, and great appreciation for an extraordinary period together prevail.”

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p style=”font-weight:400″>GGFN | Peter Weis