VfB Stuttgart have paid Angelo Stiller a fee to remove his release clause, which was previously set at around €40 million, giving the German club full control over any negotiations this summer and dealing a blow to Manchester United and Chelsea, who had been hoping to trigger the clause and complete a deal before the World Cup.
Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke confirmed the development, explaining the thinking behind Stuttgart’s decision.
“Stuttgart have been quite smart,” he said. “They’ve taken out a release clause in his contract, which was around 40 million euros. They’ve opted to pay the player a fee to take that release clause out, so it means if Stiller goes away and has a good World Cup with Germany, it’s going to increase his price tag.”
The move is a significant piece of leverage reclaimed. Stiller’s contract runs until 2028 and the Bundesliga outfit remain open to negotiating a sale, but they are no longer obligated to let him go at a fixed price. Stuttgart can now hold out for a premium fee, wait to see how Stiller performs on the international stage in North America, and sell from a position of strength rather than being forced to accept a pre-agreed figure.
Why Angelo Stiller value is only going to rise from here
The timing for interested clubs is frustrating. Stiller has been one of the Bundesliga’s most reliable defensive midfielders this season, accumulating 2,229 minutes and recording five assists, a successful pass rate of 88.2%, 5.46 ball recoveries per 90 and a 57% duel win rate. Chelsea have been sending scouts to watch him regularly, most notably during Stuttgart’s 4-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. Manchester United, who are actively looking for at least two midfielders this summer following Casemiro’s departure, had also been tracking him closely and viewed the €40m release clause as a manageable entry point.
That entry point no longer exists. If Stiller has a strong World Cup with Germany, the price will move significantly above the original clause value. Stuttgart’s shrewd decision to remove it now means clubs will need to negotiate on the German side’s terms rather than their own, and Stuttgart will not be selling in a hurry to anyone below their new, unmarked price ceiling.
What this means for Manchester United and Chelsea’s midfield plans
For United, it complicates an already complex midfield rebuild. The club wanted to move quickly, triggering the clause before the tournament to avoid a summer bidding war. That option is gone. They now face either paying whatever Stuttgart demand after the World Cup, or redirecting their midfield budget toward alternatives. Chelsea face a similar recalculation given their interest in Stiller as a potential Enzo Fernandez successor, though their deeper spending capacity makes them more likely to absorb a higher fee if the will to sign him remains. Stuttgart’s play is intelligent: they have turned a certain €40m exit into an uncertain but potentially far larger one, and with Germany among the favourites heading into the tournament, Stiller’s summer audition could prove extremely expensive for whoever ends up signing him.