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Marrakech – VfB Stuttgart have locked in the permanent signing of Moroccan international Bilal El Khannouss from Leicester City after all conditions of his loan deal were met.
Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth confirmed the move in an interview with German outlet Sport Bild. “All the conditions have now been met,” he said. “We are delighted that we have secured Bilal’s permanent commitment to VfB Stuttgart.”
The 21-year-old joined the Bundesliga club on loan in September, with the agreement including an obligation to buy contingent on the midfielder reaching a certain number of appearances. That threshold has now been crossed, converting the temporary arrangement into a permanent transfer.
According to Sport Bild, Stuttgart will pay approximately €18 million plus potential bonuses to Leicester City. The German club had already paid a €3.5 million loan fee last summer, bringing the total cost of the operation to around €21.5 million.
El Khannouss had a ready-made contract in place even before the obligation clause was triggered. He will sign with Stuttgart until 2030, with no release clause included. The deal could see him earn up to €3 million per season, including bonuses.
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The Belgian-born midfielder has delivered his most productive campaign to date at Stuttgart. In 33 appearances this season, El Khannouss has scored eight goals and provided six assists. That return comfortably surpasses his output at Leicester, where he managed three goals and five assists in 39 appearances across all competitions during the 2024/25 season.
His form has also been reflected in his market valuation. According to Transfermarkt, El Khannouss is currently valued at €32 million, a career high that makes the transfer fee look like a bargain for Stuttgart.
El Khannouss originally left Belgian side KRC Genk for Leicester City in August 2024 in a deal worth £21 million. However, his time in England was cut short after the Foxes suffered relegation from the Premier League. He sought a fresh start and found it in Stuttgart, where he quickly established himself as a key figure in the squad.
Stuttgart currently sit third in the Bundesliga standings. The club also reached the Europa League round of 16 this season before being eliminated by Porto.
The confirmation of El Khannouss’s future caps an eventful period for the midfielder. Earlier this month, the CAF Appeal Board crowned Morocco champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), ruling that Senegal forfeited the final after their players walked off the pitch in protest during stoppage time.
The result was recorded as a 3-0 victory for Morocco, ending a 50-year wait for their second continental title. El Khannouss was part of that triumphant squad, adding a continental title to what has been a breakthrough season on all fronts.
