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Bilal El Khannouss has completed a move to Stuttgart, ending his short stay at Leicester City.
The Bundesliga side have signed the Moroccan midfielder on loan with a mandatory purchase option worth $35m. It means the 21-year-old has played his final game for Leicester just over a year after joining from Genk for $27m.
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El Khannouss had been linked with several clubs this summer, including Crystal Palace, but Stuttgart made their move late in the window. The player had been left out of recent Leicester squads, with manager Marti Cifuentes saying he was not “mentally ready” to feature.
His time at Leicester saw ups and downs. After a slow start, he became one of the side’s most reliable performers during their relegation from the Premier League, finishing last season with three goals and seven assists in 39 games. He also set up both goals in Leicester’s opening-weekend win over Sheffield Wednesday this season.
The Moroccan international previously made 31 league appearances under Ruud van Nistelrooy and Steve Cooper, scoring twice and providing three assists.
Stuttgart’s deal, which obliges them to buy El Khannouss next summer, represents Leicester’s biggest outgoing of the window, though most of the fee will not arrive until the next financial year.
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The move opens the door for Louis Page to step into a bigger role, while Leicester could still turn to Aaron Ramsey on loan from Burnley as a replacement option.
Fans reacted strongly online. One wrote: “Good riddance… not as good as he thinks he is. We get the payment phased into next financial year too, without paying his wages this year. Could be important.”
Another added: “He was blinded by the bright lights, and big bucks, thanks and good luck El K.”
A third said: “Considering we bought him a year ago for £21m and he will apparently be sold for £26m next summer, it doesn’t sound like we are getting the best deal. Mind you, I suppose I should be grateful it’s not a loss.”
