Newcastle United have reached an agreement to sign Germany striker Nick Woltemade from VfB Stuttgart in a deal worth up to €90 million.
The 23-year-old, who has been linked with several European giants throughout the summer, is set to sign a long-term contract with the Magpies running until 2031. The deal will see Newcastle pay €85 million up front, with an additional €5 million in achievable bonuses — a fee that smashes both Newcastle’s transfer record and Stuttgart’s previous record sale.
Talks were finalised earlier this week while club officials were in Monaco for the UEFA competition draws, and Woltemade completed his medical on Friday before saying goodbye to his Stuttgart teammates.
The striker has been on Bayern Munich’s radar for much of the summer, but their bids — peaking at €60 million including bonuses — fell short of Stuttgart’s valuation. The Bundesliga club consistently valued Woltemade above €75 million, pointing to Liverpool’s €95 million move for Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitiké as a benchmark.
Newcastle, who have missed out on both Ekitiké and Benjamin Šeško in recent weeks, moved decisively to meet Stuttgart’s demands. The signing comes at a crucial time, with uncertainty still surrounding the future of Alexander Isak. Liverpool have expressed strong interest in the Swedish striker, submitting a bid of around €130 million earlier this summer. While Newcastle have so far resisted, the addition of Woltemade could open the door for further discussions.
At 1.98m tall (6ft 5in), Woltemade offers a physical presence but is also known for his close control, dribbling and ability to play across the frontline. Stuttgart captain Atakan Karazor has described him as a forward with “vision and dribbling that amaze,” highlighting his versatility to operate as a centre-forward, a No.10 or even from wide positions.
Although still relatively inexperienced at the highest level, Woltemade’s potential has drawn comparisons with Isak’s development under Eddie Howe at Newcastle. The Magpies will now hope their record signing can follow a similar path and become a leading figure in their attack.
