Stuttgart confirm Diehl signing

After SV Werder Bremen striker Nick Woltemade and SC Freiburg defender Yannik Keitel, German Champions' League representatives VfB Stuttgart have unveiled their third summer signing. As had been rumored for some time, FC Köln academy talent Justin Diehl will be joining the Cannstatter on a four-year-contract. 

The 19-year-old opted to resist Köln's attempts to sign him to a longer term deal. Diehl departs the cathedral city on a free transfer. Promoted to Köln's senior team this January as a means of helping the team in their fight against relegation, Diehl ended up making seven Bundesliga appearances for Timo Schultz's Geißböcke this spring. 

Diehl's was suspended by Schultz prior to Köln's final league fixture. The Effzeh gaffer did not care for the fact that Diehl opted to attend a wedding on the season's penultimate match-day rather than showing up in support of his team. Previous Köln trainer Steffen Baumgart also let it be known that he had issues with the young talent. 

"FC Köln was my sporting home for many years," Diehl noted in a statement released by Stuttgart,  "I would like to thank everyone who was involved in my training and who supported me along the way. For me, the move to VfB Stuttgart marks the start of a new chapter in my career. After talking to the people in charge, it quickly became clear to me that VfB was the right club for me." 

"Justin Diehl is one of the most exciting players in Germany in his position," VfB Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth added, "He took his first steps in the Bundesliga last season and we want to further develop and promote his skills at VfB. We are delighted that Justin has chosen VfB."