Official | VfB Stuttgart turn quick profit on €8m Lazar Jovanovic sale
· Yahoo Sports
VfB Stuttgart have officially confirmed the permanent departure of Serbian attacking prospect Lazar Jovanovic to Serie A side Udinese Calcio after just one season in Germany. According to Sky Germany, Udinese will pay Stuttgart an initial €6.5m with another €1.5m potentially due in bonuses. The deal therefore guarantees the Swabians a transfer profit on a player who accumulated only 124 competitive minutes for the first team.
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Stuttgart signed Jovanovic from Red Star Belgrade last summer for a reported fee between €4.5m and €5m. Get German Football Newscovered the Serbian youth international’s arrival in July 2025, when the then 18-year-old signed a contract through 2029 after Stuttgart had tracked him for an extended period. Jovanovic – to be chauffeured to training by his famous father Milan – appeared set for a longer stay in the Bundesrepublik.
Jovanovic leaves three years before the expiration of that deal having made only six competitive appearances for Sebastian Hoeneß’ senior side.
Stuttgart turn profit despite limited Jovanovic minutes
Jovanovic featured three times in the Bundesliga and three times in the Europa League last season. He made only two competitive starts and never completed a full 90 minutes. His limited senior record nevertheless tells only part of the story. Jovanovic twice impressed significantly during Stuttgart preseason preparations.
GGFN’s2025/26 Stuttgart tactical preview identified the Serbian as one of the clear winners of his first summer camp. Jovanovic immediately demonstrated his potential operating from the right attacking flank and appeared capable of earning meaningful Bundesliga minutes. First-team opportunities ultimately proved difficult to obtain amid Stuttgart’s deep attacking corps.
A developmental loan back to Red Star was considered during the winter transfer window before injury complicated the youngster’s situation further. Jovanovic consequently entered his second Stuttgart preseason with a loan departure again appearing the most logical solution. Then came another outstanding summer.
Few developmental players performed better during Stuttgart’s 2026 pre-season campaign. Jovanovic tore through the early friendlies with four goals and two assists before adding another goal against Paris FC. He continued to look dangerous as the quality of Stuttgart’s opposition increased.
Get German Football News’2026/27 Stuttgart tactical preview consequently labelled Jovanovic the club’s “most productive developmental winner” of preseason. The performances provided another reminder of why Stuttgart originally invested several million euros in the winger.
They did not, however, significantly improve his pathway to competitive football. Hoeneß still possesses considerably more established attacking options, while the 19-year-old requires regular senior minutes at this stage of his development.
Udinese now acquire a young attacker whose first Bundesliga chapter produced little competitive football but continued to contain flashes of considerable potential.
Stuttgart executive explains Jovanovic departure
“Lazar completed a very promising preseason and demonstrated his qualities in several friendlies,” Stuttgart Board Member for Sport Fabian Wohlgemuth said in the club’s official statement. “At the same time, competition within our squad is intense and the move to Udinese offers Lazar the opportunity for more playing time than would probably have been the case with us. We thank Lazar for our time together and wish him all the best for the future.”