VfB Stuttgart has officially announced the transfer of Serbian forward Lazar Jovanovic to Italian Serie A club Udinese Calcio, concluding a brief tenure in Germany that lasted just one season. The transfer deal is structured with an initial payment of €6.5 million, with the potential for an additional €1.5 million in performance-related bonuses, ensuring a profit for Stuttgart after acquiring Jovanovic for between €4.5 million and €5 million from Red Star Belgrade last summer.
Jovanovic, who joined Stuttgart as an 18-year-old and signed a contract that extended through 2029, was anticipated to have a longer career in the Bundesliga. He was even expected to be driven to training by his father, Milan, a notable figure in Serbian football. However, after only six appearances for Stuttgart’s first team, the young talent has now departed three years before his contract was set to expire.
During the previous season, Jovanovic made three appearances in the Bundesliga and three in the Europa League, but he struggled to secure a starting position, managing only two starts and never completing a full match. Despite his limited playing time, he showed glimpses of his potential during pre-season, where he impressed the coaching staff with his performances on the right flank.
As identified in tactical previews for the 2025/26 season, Jovanovic was seen as one of the standout players during his first summer training camp with Stuttgart. His ability to create opportunities and score goals in friendly matches raised expectations for his role in the upcoming season. However, competition for places in Stuttgart's attacking lineup proved to be a significant hurdle.
In January, a loan back to Red Star Belgrade was contemplated, but injuries complicated the situation for the promising winger. He entered his second pre-season with Stuttgart looking for a loan move again, yet he continued to shine in friendly matches, netting four goals and providing two assists, further demonstrating his capabilities against various levels of competition.
Despite these impressive pre-season performances, Stuttgart's head coach, Sebastian Hoeneß, had a wealth of established attacking options at his disposal, limiting Jovanovic's chances for regular first-team football. Recognizing the need for the 19-year-old to gain valuable playing time, Stuttgart made the decision to allow him to join Udinese, where he is expected to have more opportunities to develop his skills on the pitch.
Stuttgart's Board Member for Sport, Fabian Wohlgemuth, commented on Jovanovic's departure, stating, "Lazar completed a very promising preseason and demonstrated his qualities in several friendlies. 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." This transfer marks a strategic decision for both the player and the club, allowing Jovanovic to continue his development in a competitive environment.
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