Stuttgart exercise €5 million purchase option on Leweling

After confirming the permanent signing of defender Leonidas Stergiou last week, German Champions' League representatives VfB Stuttgart have now also signed Union Berlin loanee Jamie Leweling to a permanent deal. The 23-year-old German youth international arrived on loan from Köpenick at the beginning of the season. Germany's Kicker Magazine reports that the Swabians have paid Union €5 million for the versatile attacker. 

It took some time for Leweling to find his feet in Württemberg, but he was able to get his name on the scoresheet for the first time with an assist against Hoffenheim on match-day nine. Since then, he's scored five league goals and pocketed six assists for Sebastian Hoeneß' team. Having started the last seven league fixtures for Hoeneß, Leweling has firmly entrenched himself as a regular. 

"Jamie rose to the challenge and was able to make the most of his time at VfB Stuttgart," Union managing director Oliver Ruhnert noted in a press release issued by Leweling's now former club, "It is therefore logical that he and VfB want to continue on this path. We wish him continued success."

"His commitment and willingness to work for the team make him a very valuable player for us," VfB sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth noted in his own statement, "We also see further development potential in Jamie and have therefore decided to tie Jamie to VfB for the long term."

"I found it a bit difficult at the start of the season, but I was able to improve over the course of the season and am on the right track," Leweling himself said,  "This season has simply been incredible. I'm looking forward to a new challenge."