- Übertragung der VfB-Daten
Mit einem breiten Grinsen hebt Fußball-Nationalspieler Deniz Undav triumphierend die Arme im Parkplatz des VfB Stuttgart. Trainer Sebastian Hoeneß begrüßt ihn mit einem Handschlag und einer Umarmung. Nach scheinbar endlosen Verhandlungen hat die Transfer-Auseinandersetzung um Undav endlich ein Ende gefunden. Der VfB Stuttgart kann sich nun tatsächlich auf einen der Schlüsselspieler der herausragenden Vorsaison verlassen, wenn er in die Champions League zurückkehrt.
Die Vizemeister haben sich mit dem Premier-League-Club Brighton & Hove Albion geeinigt, bei dem Undav letzte Saison ausgeliehen war. Der 28-Jährige hat einen Vertrag bis zum 30. Juni 2027 beim schwäbischen Bundesligisten unterzeichnet, wie der Verein am Vorabend seines letzten Trainingsspiels gegen Athletic Bilbao am Samstag (15:15 Uhr) bekanntgab.
"It's a great feeling that the waiting is finally over," said Undav. Er hatte monatelang seine Absicht bekundet, weiterhin für die Stuttgarter Mannschaft zu spielen.
Beide, der Verein und die Fans, wollten den zuverlässigen Leistungsträger und Publikumsliebling behalten. Sie hatten die Kaufoption im Leihvertrag ausgeübt. Allerdings hatte Brighton eine Kaufoption sichergestellt und diese ebenfalls ausgeübt. Daraufhin folgten freie Verhandlungen.
"This transfer takes us to a new economic dimension, yet we are investing in proven quality," said VfB sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth.
The club did not comment on the transfer fee. According to media reports, it amounts to up to around 30 million euros including bonuses. Undav thus becomes the most expensive transfer in Stuttgart's history, surpassing his new strike partner who joined just a few weeks ago. Ermedin Demirovic had come from FC Augsburg for 21 million euros plus bonuses, making him the most expensive signing in the club's history.
With the signing of Demirovic, sports director Wohlgemuth and CEO Alexander Wehrle had reacted to the departure of exceptional striker and goal machine Serhou Guirassy, who joined league rivals Borussia Dortmund.
With the successful pursuit of Undav, the Stuttgart team avoids further disintegration after last season's surprisingly successful campaign. In addition to Guirassy, captain and defensive leader Waldemar Anton also joined Dortmund, while his defensive colleague Hiroki Ito accepted an offer from German record champions FC Bayern Munich. Sebastian Hoeneß and the VfB are facing a new beginning with Undav. The 28-Jährige hatte als Guirassys Sturmpartner letzte Saison geglänzt, 18 Tore erzielt und weitere 10 vorbereitet, was ihn zum erfolgreichsten deutschen Bundesligastürmer machte.
"Deniz has achieved extraordinary things in his first year in Stuttgart," praised Wohlgemuth: "Deniz is someone who inspires as a person and is important for the team's social cohesion. Sportingly and extracurricularly, he quickly became an identification figure for us." Despite his impressive performances, Undav only got to play once at the home tournament of the European Championship.
Undav recently expressed his disappointment with Brighton. "I never really felt valued during the year I was away from Brighton, or that anyone cared about me. That showed me that Stuttgart really wants me," the striker said in a YouTube interview on the channel of professional boxer Agit Kabayel. "Brighton hasn't done anything for a year."
Fabian Wohlgemuth emphasized the quality of the new signing, stating, "This transfer takes us to a new economic dimension, yet we are investing in proven quality." Later, when discussing Deniz Undav's impact on the team, Fabian Good-will added, "Deniz is someone who inspires as a person and is important for the team's social cohesion."
