⚽ Stuttgart Manager Admits £69m Sale of Nick Woltemade to Newcastle Could Haunt the Club ⚽
The shockwaves from Nick Woltemade’s £69 million move to Newcastle United are still being felt at VfB Stuttgart. In an emotional and candid admission, manager Sebastian Hoeneß has voiced his deep regret over the club’s risky decision to let the star striker go so late in the transfer window.
“It’s not about whether my fears were confirmed,” Hoeneß told Welt. “We all knew we were taking a risk by selling Nick — and with the Hyeon Gyu Oh deal collapsing, the situation became even more difficult.”
The German club had hoped their remaining attacking options would be enough to carry them through the season, but with injuries piling up and Ermedin Demirović now the only natural centre-forward in the squad, the pressure is immense.
Meanwhile in England, Woltemade has hit the ground running. Four goals in his first five starts have made him an instant fan favourite at St James’ Park. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has praised the 22-year-old’s attitude and ability to adapt quickly despite having “hardly any training time” with his new teammates.
For Stuttgart, the timing couldn’t have been worse. Woltemade’s unique striker profile gave their attack a special edge, and failing to replace him is now being viewed as a massive gamble. Hoeneß admitted, “We all recognised the need to sign a replacement. But at that stage, it simply wasn’t possible.”
Newcastle, on the other hand, see him as a statement signing — a young, dynamic forward already delivering on the big stage. As the goals keep coming in the Premier League, Stuttgart’s regret may only grow deeper.
