VfB Stuttgart officially said goodbye to goalkeeper Alexander Nübel on Wednesday, leaving the Germany back-up in limbo given parent club Bayern Munich have made clear they do not want him to return.
Stuttgart, who won the German Cup with the keeper in the 2024-25 season and qualified for the Champions League in the campaign just finished, cannot afford Nübel permanently and another loan is off the table for Bayern.
"After three successful seasons, Alexander Nübel's loan deal at Stuttgart ends. We say thank you Alex for our time together," a Stuttgart statement said.
Sebastian Hoeness' side are set to rely on home-grown talent Dennis Seimen next season, sources close to the matter have told dpa. Seimen is returning from a loan spell at Paderborn after helping them win promotion to the Bundesliga.
Nübel's deal at Bayern still runs until 2030, even though he has rarely played for the club since signing from Schalke in 2020. He also spent time on loan at Monaco.
Having renewed for another season with Manuel Neuer and Sven Ulreich, and with promising youngster Jonas Urbig waiting in the wings, Nübel is likely to be shopped around by the German champions in the coming weeks.
"It was a sensational time at VfB Stuttgart in every respect," the 29-year-old said in the Stuttgart statement. "My family and I had three wonderful years in Stuttgart and I felt very comfortable from day one."
Juventus are said to be interested in Nübel, the Bild newspaper reported.
