The fee was not disclosed, but Germany’s Bild newspaper reported it was €43 million with a further six million in add-ons, surpassing the €25 million Leipzig paid Hoffenheim for defender David Raum last season.

“We stayed within our planned framework with the transfer fee, and if success-oriented bonuses occur on top of that, it means above all that we were able to celebrate the sporting successes together with the player,” Leipzig’s sports director Max Eberl said.

Openda, 23, scored 21 goals in 38 league appearances for Lens last season, leading them to a second-placed finish.

He has nine caps for Belgium, scoring twice.

Leipzig sold last season’s top scorer Christopher Nkunku to Premier League Chelsea in June.

They finished third in the Bundesliga to earn a place in the Champions League group stage.