VfB Stuttgart have signed Leo Sauer from Feyenoord on a contract until June 2031. The 20-year-old arrives with a growing resume already in place, after 29 appearances in all competitions for Feyenoord last season and senior Slovakia caps since his debut in March 2024.

Stuttgart back a winger with real experience

The move fits the profile Stuttgart have been building around. Sauer joined Feyenoord on loan from MŠK Žilina in 2022 before signing a professional contract in April 2023, and he has already played in the Eredivisie, the UEFA Europa League and for Slovakia.

Fabian Wohlgemuth, Stuttgart board member for sport, was clear about why the club moved. He said: "Leo has repeatedly demonstrated his qualities in the Dutch Eredivisie, the UEFA Europa League and while playing for the Slovakia national team. He is a player with great potential, and not just because of his age."

Sauer offered a straightforward reaction to the switch. "It feels great to be part of such a prestigious club," he said. "VfB have a strong presence, a rich tradition and a huge fan base. I can't wait to meet all my team-mates and play for my new club for the first time."

The platform he is joining at Stuttgart

Stuttgart are not bringing in a raw gamble. They finished fourth in the 2025 Bundesliga with 62 points and a +22 goal difference, and the recent league sequence listed for them was W-D-D-W-D. That is the level Sauer is stepping into, and it helps explain why the club could move for a player with European games and international experience already behind him.

The attraction is obvious enough: he is 20, he has already played across club and international football, and he has enough senior minutes to arrive with something more than promise alone. His 29 appearances and four goals for Feyenoord last season give Stuttgart a winger with recent production as well as upside, which is a sensible piece of business for a club operating at the top end of the Bundesliga.

Stuttgart begin their 2026/27 season away to Hansa Rostock in the DFB Cup first round on 21 August, before visiting Bayern Munich a week later in the Bundesliga.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →