Deniz Undav Signs Long-Term Contract with VfB Stuttgart

Deniz Undav has tied his future to VfB Stuttgart, signing a new contract that runs until 2029 and includes an option for a further year – a statement deal for both player and club at the peak of his powers.

The 29-year-old Germany international has grown into the heartbeat of Sebastian Hoeneß’s attack since arriving from Brighton and Hove Albion on an initial loan in the summer of 2023. Stuttgart took a calculated gamble back then. It has paid off handsomely.

Eighty-six Bundesliga games. Forty-six goals. Eighteen assists. Those are not just solid numbers; they are the figures of a forward operating among the elite in Germany’s top flight. Week after week, Undav has turned tight matches, bullied defences and given Stuttgart a ruthless edge in the penalty area.

No surprise, then, that the club moved aggressively to secure his long-term commitment.

"I'm over the moon to be continuing my career in Stuttgart," Undav said after putting pen to paper. “This contract extension means so much to me. The club and the city have become my second home over the past three years – right from day one, everyone welcomed me and my family with open arms and a lot of love. I'm really looking forward to spending many more years as part of the VfB family and enjoying lots more success."

Those words match the arc of his story. Stuttgart offered him a platform; he has responded by becoming one of the most complete forwards in the league, a striker as comfortable linking play as he is finishing chances. His brace against Augsburg on Matchday 27 was a snapshot of that blend of timing, movement and composure that has turned him into a fan favourite and a defender’s nightmare.

Inside the club, there is no doubt about his importance.

"Signing Deniz for another three years is an absolute winner, both for us as a club and for Deniz himself," said board member for sport Fabian Wohlgemuth. "In his time in Stuttgart, Deniz has become a Germany international with a World Cup around the corner. VfB finishing runners-up in the league, winning the DFB Cup and just recently qualifying for the Champions League once again has a lot to do with him as well."

That list of achievements underlines how tightly Undav’s rise is woven into Stuttgart’s resurgence. Runners-up in the Bundesliga. DFB Cup winners. Back in the Champions League. Each milestone has come with Undav at the sharp end of their football, deciding big games and dragging the team through difficult spells.

Now his influence stretches beyond club level. Julian Nagelsmann has named him in Germany’s 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the USA, a clear sign of how far his reputation has climbed. From loan signing to World Cup striker, all while driving Stuttgart back into Europe’s elite.

A long-term contract, a central role for club and country, and the Champions League on the horizon – Undav has the stage he wanted. The question now is how much higher he can push both himself and VfB Stuttgart in the years leading up to that World Cup.