VfB Stuttgart has agreed to sell Nick Woltemade to Newcastle United for a reported 85 million euros plus up to 5 million euros in bonuses. The 23-year-old center forward, who joined Stuttgart from Werder Bremen on a free transfer in the summer of 2024, is now recognized as the third-most expensive German player in football history, behind Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz.
Newcastle is paying a club-record sum for a German player, a reflection of the Magpies’ willingness to invest heavily as they reshape their attack. The deal reportedly puts Woltemade ahead of the investments that brought Pavard, Gómez, and Enzo Millot to the Bundesliga clubs in recent years, and it secures a remarkable exit for Stuttgart after a single season.
Woltemade’s transfer follows a standout season in which he featured in 36 competitive matches for VfB Stuttgart, scoring 18 goals and providing 3 assists across all competitions. The move comes as Newcastle looks to bolster its frontline while potentially repositioning its squad in the wake of ongoing transfer speculation surrounding its top striker, Alexander Isak. Isak has been linked with a high-profile move away, with rumors suggesting a possible transfer to Liverpool for around 140 million euros.
Woltemade spoke warmly about joining Newcastle, saying: I’m very happy to be at this great club. From the first contact I felt that the club really wanted me and has big plans. Leaving Germany is a big step, but everyone has welcomed me in a way that already feels like family. After speaking with the head coach, I feel this is the right place to reach my best level. I’ve watched the stadium on television—it looks fantastic, and the atmosphere is incredible. I’m excited to play and to score here.
Record sale for VfB Stuttgart and a new benchmark for the club
– Woltemade becomes VfB Stuttgart’s most expensive sale to date, surpassing the club’s previous top earners: Benjamin Pavard (about 35 million euros), Mario Gómez (about 30 million euros), and Enzo Millot (about 28 million euros).
– This transfer places Woltemade among the Bundesliga’s top historical gains, ranking behind only Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz in terms of German players’ transfer fees.
– In broader Bundesliga-to-Premier League activity this summer, Woltemade is the 16th player to move from the Bundesliga to the Premier League, contributing to a flow of roughly 660 million euros from England to Germany. Conversely, about 220 million euros has gone the other way, with several deals completed on loan.
What this means for Stuttgart and Newcastle
– For VfB Stuttgart, the transfer provides a substantial reinvestment opportunity as the club plans how to strengthen the squad for the next phase of competition. It also sets a clear market benchmark for German players moving abroad.
– For Newcastle United, the transaction signals their continued willingness to invest heavily to secure top talents and address forward-line depth, particularly if Isak’s situation evolves and the club reassesses its attacking options.
Summary
Nick Woltemade’s one-season rise at VfB Stuttgart culminated in a club-record sale to Newcastle United, making him the third-most expensive German player in football history with a reported 85 million euro fee plus up to 5 million in bonuses. The deal reflects both VfB’s strong selling position and Newcastle’s ambitious transfer strategy, while Woltemade looks forward to a new challenge in the Premier League and to contributing to Newcastle’s ongoing project.
Commentary
– The transfer underscores a broader trend of escalating values for German talents moving to the Premier League, and it could influence how VfB and other German clubs price and structure future deals.
– If Isak leaves, Woltemade’s arrival could help Newcastle fill a potential gap in forward options with a player who arrives with proven goal-scoring credentials from his time in the Bundesliga.
– Fans should watch how Stuttgart reallocates the funds—whether to bolster the squad through targeted signings, invest in youth development, or strengthen their competition-ready depth.