Gruda will arrive on loan from Brighton, mirroring the arrangement that took him to RB Leipzig for the second half of last season, but this time the deal includes a mandatory buy clause worth between €25m and €30m that triggers after a small number of competitive appearances, all but guaranteeing a permanent switch.
The German forward, who came through Mainz's academy before an initial €30m move to Brighton in 2024, made an immediate impact on his first loan spell in Saxony, scoring three goals and adding three assists in just 13 Bundesliga appearances as Leipzig secured third place and a return to the Champions League.
He will once again wear the number 10 shirt and link up with new head coach Martin Demichelis, who has succeeded Ole Werner since Gruda's initial spell ended.
He won't be the only new arrival in Saxony this week. Centre-back Maxime Esteve, 24, is also set to put pen to paper, with Sky reporting Leipzig hope to have the paperwork finalised before the end of the week. The 1.93m left-footer joins from relegated Premier League side Burnley, in a deal reportedly worth up to €32m including add-ons, with Burnley also retaining a sell-on clause on any future transfer.
The twin arrivals continue a busy summer of recruitment for Leipzig as they look to strengthen across multiple positions following last season's campaign. Gruda's rise has been notable enough to catch the eye well beyond Germany, having previously been named by Lionel Messi as one of ten young players around the world he rates most highly, a comparison rooted in similar attributes: close control, vision and the ability to glide past opponents at pace.
Esteve, for his part, arrives having established himself as a regular in Burnley's backline before their relegation, and represents another left-footed option in a Leipzig defence looking to build on last season's third-placed finish and return to the Champions League.