Berlin, Jan 14 (IANS): RB Leipzig have sealed the transfer of defender Dayot Upamecano from Salzburg, the Bundesliga football club have confirmed.

The 18-year-old centre-back, who received jersey number 17, has signed a four-and-a-half year contract to stay in Leipzig until June 2021, reports Xinhua news agency.

"We are very delighted that despite numerous offers from international top clubs he has decided to joins us in order to make his next career step here," Leipzig's sporting director Ralf Rangnick said on Friday.

"We are convinced that Dayot will be able to strengthen our squad qualitatively in the short term," he added.

The Frenchman made 23 competitive appearances for Salzburg. He is, in addition, the eighth player who moved from the Austrian champions to Leipzig.

Newly-promoted RB Leipzig currently sit at the second place in German top division standings.

They are scheduled to meet fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt in a Bundesliga clash on January 21.