theglobalsun – Morocco International Leaves Leicester City After Impressive Loan Spell VfB Stuttgart have confirmed the permanent signing of attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss from Leicester City following a successful loan spell in Germany. The Bundesliga club moved quickly to secure the Morocco international after his strong performances throughout the season.
El Khannouss joined Stuttgart on loan last summer after Leicester City returned to the Championship following relegation from the Premier League in 2025. The midfielder adapted quickly to German football and became an important player within Stuttgart’s squad.
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The 22-year-old made 41 appearances across all competitions during the campaign. He scored nine goals and registered seven assists as Stuttgart secured a fourth-place finish in the Bundesliga.
That league position also guaranteed qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League. El Khannouss played a significant role in helping the club maintain consistency throughout the campaign.
The possibility of the midfielder returning to Leicester became increasingly unlikely after the English club suffered a second consecutive relegation. Leicester are now preparing for League One football next season following another disappointing campaign.
El Khannouss originally joined Leicester in 2024 from Belgian side Genk. During his first season in England, he made 36 appearances as Leicester struggled throughout the Premier League campaign before relegation.
The club later approved a temporary move to Germany to allow the player continued top-level development. Stuttgart’s decision to make the transfer permanent reflects the midfielder’s impact both domestically and internationally.
El Khannouss has also strengthened his reputation with Morocco’s national team during the past year. The attacking midfielder is included in Morocco’s squad for this summer’s World Cup tournament.
Young creative midfielders with technical ability and tactical versatility remain highly valued across European football. Stuttgart now appear committed to building part of their future squad around the Moroccan international.
The permanent transfer also highlights Stuttgart’s growing ambition following Champions League qualification. Bundesliga clubs increasingly target younger players capable of contributing immediately while still offering long-term development potential.
Stuttgart Praise Bilal El Khannouss’ Quality and Future Potential
Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth praised El Khannouss after confirming the permanent agreement. The club executive highlighted both the player’s performances and his potential for future improvement.
“In the season just ended, Bilal excelled across all competitions in a VfB shirt,” Wohlgemuth told Stuttgart’s official website.
The sporting director also emphasized the midfielder’s growing importance within Morocco’s national team setup despite his relatively young age.
“He has established himself at a young age as one of the lynchpins of the Moroccan national team,” Wohlgemuth added.
Stuttgart believe the midfielder still has significant room for development despite his already impressive performances in Germany. The Bundesliga club views him as a player capable of reaching an even higher level.
“Bilal already has exceptional footballing skills, but at the same time, we see further scope for development,” Wohlgemuth explained.
“As such, we’re convinced that he’s not yet reached his full potential,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Leicester City continue reshaping their squad following relegation to League One. The club recently confirmed the departure of 10 first-team players as part of a major restructuring process.
Ricardo Pereira, Jordan Ayew, Patson Daka, Jamaal Lascelles, and Wanya Marcal all left after their contracts expired. Leicester also confirmed the conclusion of several loan agreements involving Jordan James, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Aribo, Divine Mukasa, and Dujuan Richards.
Veteran goalkeeper Asmir Begovic remains in discussions regarding a possible contract extension with the club. Leicester have not yet officially announced El Khannouss’ departure despite Stuttgart confirming the permanent transfer.
The midfielder now prepares for another season in Germany after establishing himself successfully in the Bundesliga. Stuttgart supporters will hope El Khannouss can continue developing as the club returns to Champions League competition next season.
