Janis Blaswich leaves RB Leipzig and is loaned out to Salzburg for a year. After the arrival of Belgian Maarten Vandevoordt, it was clear that the 33-year-old had to fear for his position as number 2
After the cruciate ligament rupture of long-time regular goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, Janis Blaswich quickly and unexpectedly got a lot of playing time in goal for RB Leipzig. The keeper, who came from Almelo, did such a good job that he continued to stand between the posts even after the Hungarian’s recovery. RB extended the contract with the ex-Gladbacher, who also took part in a national team training course under Julian Nagelsmann for the first time in November, last fall and tied him to the club until 2026.
A few weaker performances later, however, he lost his place in Leipzig’s goal – from February, Gulacsi was back in charge. However, it had long been clear that RB would have to relinquish one of its two goalkeepers for the coming season. The reason: the transfer of Belgian goalkeeping talent Maarten Vandevoordt from KRC Genk to Saxony, which had already been decided two years ago.
Unsurprisingly, Blaswich has now been affected after Gulacsi’s contract extension in May. He will be loaned out for a year to RB Salzburg, who last week announced the departure of ex-Cologne player Timo Horn after just six months, having been unable to get past Austria’s currently injured national goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.
Blaswich won the cup and the Supercup with RB
“Despite many inquiries from home and abroad, the overall package Salzburg was the optimum for all sides: Janis will play there regularly, including internationally. The conditions and the environment are first-class – both for him as an athlete and for his family,” said Leipzig’s sporting director Rouven Schröder, explaining the loan to the sister club: “After Pete’s serious injury, he immediately stepped up to the top level. Janis was one of the guarantors of the successes we were able to celebrate in the 2022/23 season and beyond.”
He won the DFB Cup and the Super Cup with RB. The 33-year-old played a total of 64 competitive matches for Leipzig. “It was an outstanding time at RB Leipzig and I really enjoyed fighting for titles together with the team and the fans,” said Blaswich: “Accordingly, the DFB Cup and Super Cup victories were of course the absolute highlights and these successes will always remain with me. My family and I quickly felt extremely at home in Leipzig – I’m very grateful for that.”
In his new role in Austria, the chances of also winning trophies should not be too bad. Even if the long-standing serial champions Salzburg did not win the championship last season for the first time since 2013. Whether Blaswich will return to Leipzig at all after the season will probably also depend on how the new goalkeeping constellation with Gulasci and Vandevoordt develops.
