Former Union Berlin center back Toni Leistner joins QPR on a free transfer. Aston Villa, Norwich and Hull were among the teams interested in securing the 27-year-old’s signature.
QPR have a new manager and he has completed his first signing. Former England boss Steve McClaren will lead Queen’s Park Rangers in the new season and he’s delighted to have captured a strong, dependable center back in a position of need.
“We have been looking for the last month for centre backs and we believe we have found a very good one in Toni.”
“I have watched him play, we have done a lot of character references on him and I went out to Berlin to meet him, to look him in the eye and speak with him.”
Toni Leistner was such a hot commodity among Championship clubs because his contract with Union Berlin expired, meaning he could be signed as a free agent. The 1.90 m. center back was considered to be one of Bundesliga’s best players at the position for the past two seasons. His signing is especially important for QPR after losing three members of the defence in the off-season: Jack Robinson, Nedum Onuoha and James Perch.
Aston Villa will be particularly disappointed to have missed out on the German defender. Tall, strong and quicker than his appearance suggests, Toni Leistner is reminiscent of a young John Terry. The Chelsea legend captained Aston Villa last season and led it to the Championship playoffs, where it lost in the final to Fulham. Leistner was seen as the perfect replacement for the departed Terry. The pool with affordable quality options is shallow, so work will be cut out for The Villans.
Leistner will require some adjustment time, as this represents his first venture outside native Germany. Meanwhile, Steve McClaren collects the first piece of a puzzle that when fully completed should lead QPR back to the top flight.