Rabat – VfB Stuttgart has exercised its option to sign Bilal El Khannouss on a permanent basis from Leicester City after the midfielder met the performance criteria outlined in his initial loan deal, according to Sport Bild.
The German club will pay a sum exceeding €18 million, plus additional performance-based bonuses, to make the player’s loan move permanent. This comes after an initial payment of approximately €3 million was made to secure his services for the current football season.
After joining the Bundesliga side on loan in September, the 21-year-old midfielder has now triggered a mandatory buy clause, reaching a specific number of appearances, his temporary stay has automatically converted into a permanent deal.
The Moroccan international has made 35 appearances with Stuttgart this season, scoring nine times and providing four assists, positioning himself as one of the club’s most efficient players.
Following Leicester City’s relegation, El Khannouss left the English side just a year after his £21 million transfer from Genk. He has since found his form at Stuttgart, quickly becoming a key part of their midfield.
With a current valuation of €32 million on Transfermarkt, El Khannouss has reached a new personal peak. This valuation significantly exceeds his recent transfer fee, highlighting the plan Stuttgart is already making for him.
Stuttgart currently sits 3rd in the Bundesliga with 56 points after 29 matches. They are tied on points with RB Leipzig but hold the higher spot due to a superior goal difference, putting them in a strong position to secure a Champions League berth.