The extension with Jamie Leweling shows progress by VfB Stuttgart: The national player probably no longer has an exit clause.
Stuttgart – VfB Stuttgart announced a contract coup on Tuesday: New national player Jamie Leweling extended his contract early and is reportedly becoming one of the top earners. In return, the winger probably waived an exit clause that had previously made it easier for him to move.
The topic of exit clauses has come up again and again for the Swabians in recent months, after three top performers, Waldemar Anton, Serhou Guirassy and Hiroki Ito, made use of such an option in the summer. In the past, it was hardly possible for VfB to avoid corresponding contractual structures.
Now four Stuttgart national players are tied without a clause
“Of course, we were contractually on crutches back then and made compromises in order to keep the store together,” said Fabian Wohlgemuth, looking back in June at the time when Stuttgart was only able to avoid their third relegation in seven years in the relegation game against Hamburger SV . The sports director has recently made no secret of the fact that he sees the reduction of such “legacy burdens” as the next development step for VfB.
With the contract news at Leweling, a positive interim result can be noted. Before Leweling, Maximilian Mittelstädt had also waived a promotion clause in an extension, and Angelo Stiller, Deniz Undav and current shooting star Nick Woltemade are also said not to have included such an option in their contract.
Chris Führich and Enzo Millot still have exit clauses
According to the Stuttgarter Nachrichten, Chris Führich and Enzo Millot currently have an exit clause among the VfB stars. Führich could have moved her last summer, but despite persistent rumors, a variety of transfer options for the dribbler did not materialize.
Millot is likely to say goodbye after the current season. However, a scenario in which several top stars cannot be retained does not seem to be a threat. VfB has already made important progress in the development that Wohlgemuth sees as so important.
VfB has reduced the “gap to the top clubs”.
“We have to continue to grow economically and sportingly.” “Clauses are just a symptom of our lagging behind the top clubs in the league,” said the sports director in October. This deficit has been reduced significantly under successful coach Sebastian Hoeneß, and financial progress is a consequence – for example through transfer income, but above all through participation in the Champions League.
Speaking of Hoeneß: The coach himself probably has the most important exit clause at VfB Stuttgart, but there is currently no concrete indication that it will also become the biggest nuisance.
