Official: Stuttgart sign Malian striker on loan
Germany's Kicker Magazine reports that the introduction was delayed slightly by last-minute haggling over the loan-fee and purchase option.
The 22-year-old still appears likely to join the Württembergers permanently if trainer Sebastian Hoeneß finds regular use for him.
| El Bilal Touré | VfB Stuttgart |
Having passed his Stuttgart medical yesterday, 22-year-old Malian striker El Bilal Touré was officially unveiled as a new VfB signing on Friday. The Atalanta Bergamo man will spend the season in Swabia on loan. Germany's preeminent footballing publication, Kicker Magazine reports that Stuttgart managed to reduce Touré's reported loan fee in the final stretch of negotiations.
Instead of paying a €4 million loan fee, Touré's arrangement will cost the 2023/24 Bundesliga runners-up only €2.5 million. Kicker nevertheless reports that the purchase option for the attacker has increased from €16 million to €18 million. Atalanta spent a reported €30 million to acquire the 19-times-capped international from UD Almeira last summer.
A challenging season awaits us with matches in the Bundesliga, DFB Cup and Champions League,” Stuttgart personnel chief Fabian Wohlgemuth noted in a club statement ”We want to be as well equipped as possible. With El Bilal Touré, we now have another strong option for our attacking play.”
"He has proven his qualities in France, Spain and most recently at Atalanta Bergamo in Italy," Wohlgemuth's statement continues, "He is a type of player that we haven't had before and brings a very important element to our attacking play with his exceptional speed."
“VfB is a big club with great fans," the well-traveled player himself added, "I'm really looking forward to the Bundesliga and, of course, the Champions League.”