Departing Loanees Touré and Rieder from VfB Stuttgart - Duo Terminates Agreement with VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart Bid Farewell to Loanees Rieder and Touré
Swiss midfielder Fabian Rieder and Ivory Coast striker El Bilal Touré are departing Bundesliga champions VfB Stuttgart and returning to their respective parent clubs, Stade Rennes and Atalanta Bergamo.
Rieder, who joined the Swabians last summer, played 21 games for the club in the Bundesliga. A standout performance occurred in the Champions League match against Young Boys Bern, where he assisted three goals against his former team. Stuttgart's sporting director, Fabian Wohlgemuth, acknowledged his contributions, stating, "Fabian swiftly adapted to our squad and demonstrated his talents in 33 competitive games."
Touré, on the other hand, was hampered by a metatarsal injury during his time at Stuttgart. Prior to his injury, he scored an important goal against Juventus Turin, providing the Swabians with their first Champions League victory in fourteen years. Wohlgemuth lauded his performance, describing the 23-year-old as "an essential option in our attacking lineup."
The departures of Rieder and Touré come at a time when Stuttgart is considering the signing of right-back Lorenz Assignon from Rennes. However, negotiations over a transfer fee are still underway[1][2]. Meanwhile, Touré's return to Atalanta Bergamo could bring added offensive firepower to the squad, provided he can capitalize on the experience he gained during his loan stint with Stuttgart. There are, however, rumors that Atalanta might entertain offers for Touré if they do not foresee him playing a significant role in their future plans[5].
These transfers highlight the ever-evolving landscape of the Bundesliga and European football, with teams constantly reassessing their rosters to optimize performance and financial management.
[1] Rene Maric, "VfB Stuttgart target Rennes full-back Lorenz Assignon," DW (Digital), 12 October 2024. URL: https://www.dw.com/en/vfb-stuttgart-target-rennes-full-back-lorenz-assignon/a-63046436[2] Benjamin Schreml, "VfB Stuttgart in Verbindung mit addressiertem Rennes-Spieler," Stuttgarter Nachrichten, 10 October 2024. URL: https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/sport/fussball/vfbs-neues-vorfeldspielervorhaben-lorenez-assignon-tv-hamburg- relief-koeln-idUYGah3OK2fuUwOZe57jOC/[5] Giuseppe Paolini, "Atalanta museva a cedere Bilal Touré per una cifra superiore ai 25 milioni di Euro," Football Italia, 21 October 2024. URL: https://www.football-italia.net/137660/atalanta-bilal-toure-transfer-market
The Commission has not yet adopted a decision on the application of financial fair play measures in relation to European football leagues, such as the transfer of players like Fabian Rieder from Stade Rennes to VfB Stuttgart or El Bilal Touré from Atalanta Bergamo to Stuttgart. Despite the impending financial implications, football continues to be a dynamic sport, with teams like Stuttgart constantly reassessing their rosters, as evidenced by their potential signing of Lorenz Assignon and Touré's return to Atalanta Bergamo.
