VfB boss explains Silas’ loan after ‘Deadline Day’

Silas Katompa Mvumpa says goodbye to VfB Stuttgart and joins Red Star Belgrade on loan. A meeting in the Champions League is already foreseeable.

Stuttgart – VfB Stuttgart is facing the unusual burden of the Champions League this season. Nevertheless, the runners-up have decided to let Silas Katompa Mvumpa go without a replacement. The Congolese successfully insisted on a change of scenery and has joined FK Crvena zvezda – better known in Germany as Red Star Belgrade – on loan.

“In the last few days we have been thinking very intensively about a possible transfer for Silas. “We all know about Silas’ qualities, but at the same time there is a lot of competition in our squad this season,” said sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth in the VfB transfer announcement. “Every player wants as much playing time as possible, and we can absolutely understand that.”

Loan of Silas “sensible solution for all those who have been realized”

Against this background, the parties “agreed in open discussions that a loan move is a sensible solution for everyone in the current situation,” Wohlgemuth adds. Silas will initially play in Belgrade until the end of the season. The club of technical director Marko Marin, a former German international, has reportedly secured a purchase option.

At the end of November there will be a reunion with Silas in Belgrade

Stuttgart could probably receive up to 10 million euros for Silas if Red Star decides on a permanent transfer in 2025. It is unclear whether the purchase option is subject to an obligation under certain conditions. However, it is certain that there will be a reunion in the first half of the season, provided the winger does not get injured.

Stuttgart and Crvena zvezda will meet on Matchday 5 of the league phase of the reformed Champions League in Serbia at the end of November. The premier class was also a main reason why the loan transfer had to be processed quickly despite the transfer window being open until September 13th: All participants had until midnight on Tuesday (September 3rd) to register their squads for the league phase.

It seems that Belgrade would have refrained from signing Silas if he had not arrived in time. In this case, there would obviously have been an option with RSC Anderlecht, who, however, have to announce their squad for the Europa League just one day later. Apparently, Werder Bremen tried in vain to make a surprise transfer for Silas from the Bundesliga.