On the last day of the winter transfer window, Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart strengthened itself with former BVB midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud. In doing so, the Swabians apparently prevailed against two league rivals, among others.
According to Bild, Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Mönchengladbach were interested in Mahmoud Dahoud’s services, as were the top Turkish club Besiktas and a representative from the Italian Serie A. In the end, however, the contract was awarded to VfB Stuttgart, who loaned the midfielder from the English Premier League club until the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Dahoud is said to have directly rejected a request from Saudi Arabia; a move to the desert was out of the question for the 28-year-old.
According to the report, the fact that VfB Stuttgart can rely on Dahoud for the rest of the second half of the season is also due to coach Sebastian Hoeneß. The 41-year-old had a video call with the former Dortmund player about a week before the transfer after the player did not make it into the squad for the Premier League duel against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Dahoud clause does not only apply to VfB Stuttgart
As VfB Stuttgart announced on Thursday, the Bundesliga club had secured a purchase option in negotiations with Brighton & Hove Albion. According to media reports, this is between nine and ten million euros.
However, according to “Bild”, the clause has a special feature: the purchase option does not apply exclusively to VfB Stuttgart. Other clubs could also get Mahmoud Dahoud in the summer for that fixed price.
Mahmoud Dahoud only turned his back on the Bundesliga last summer after 162 appearances for Gladbach and Borussia Dortmund after his contract with BVB was not extended. He signed a two-year contract with Brighton & Hove Albion until 2025.