Stuttgart regret Chema Andrés sale to Brighton despite major transfer profit

Chema Andrés has left VfB Stuttgart for Brighton & Hove Albion after only one season in Germany, giving the Bundesliga club a sizeable financial return but costing it a midfielder its sporting director wanted to keep.

“From a sporting perspective, we would have liked to keep Chema,” sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth said shortly after the transfer window closed. He credited Andrés with helping Stuttgart qualify for the Champions League and reach the German Cup final.

The 21-year-old Spaniard joined Stuttgart from Real Madrid a year ago and asked to move to the English club, a Conference League participant. Wohlgemuth said Brighton met the financial conditions Stuttgart had set for the transfer. Reports in the Stuttgarter Zeitung and Stuttgarter Nachrichten put the fee at around 25 million euros. Because of Real Madrid's sell-on clause, however, Stuttgart would receive about 16 million euros. The club could also benefit again if Andrés later leaves Brighton.

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From a sporting perspective, we would have liked to keep Chema.

Stuttgart paid about 3 million euros for Andrés and therefore records a substantial profit. He made 41 competitive appearances for the club and still had a contract running until June 30, 2030.

His departure came as a surprise because his name had not featured in recent transfer speculation. Stuttgart already has several options in central midfield, including Grischa Prömel, Angelo Stiller and former captain Atakan Karazor. Speculation had instead focused on possible departures for Germany international Jamie Leweling and Morocco international Bilal El Khannouss. A proposed move for Josha Vagnoman to Hull City fell through, while reported Werder Bremen interest in Badredine Bouanani did not materialize.

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Thanks in part to him, we were able to qualify for the Champions League and reach the cup final.