Auf Wiedersehen, pet!

Woltemade only joined Stuttgart at the beginning of last season - on a free transfer from Werder Bremen in July 2024 - but his rise to stardom since then has been meteoric.

The colossal 6’6’’ striker enjoyed a stunning breakout season last term in which he registered 12 goals, became a senior Germany international, and helped the Swabians to their first DFB Cup since 1997.

In addition to his first full international cap, Woltemade also stole the show for Germany at the U21 European Championships over the summer, finishing the tournament as the outright top scorer with six goals, despite Germany losing the final to England.

Watch: The best of Nick Woltemade

"I felt at home at VfB from day one and will cherish my time in Stuttgart," said Woltemade in a statement. "Winning the DFB Cup was an incredible experience, one I'll cherish forever. It was fantastic to wear the VfB jersey and play in front of these incredible fans. I wish VfB all the best for the future. Thank you, VfB!"

Stuttgart CEO Alexander Wehrle added: "After we had ruled out a transfer of Nick during the current transfer period for a long time, the circumstances changed so dramatically at short notice that, in the spirit of our overall responsibility for VfB Stuttgart – despite knowing Nick's sporting value – we have now agreed to a sale. We thank Nick for the time we spent together and wish him all the best for his future career."

In total, Woltemade managed 18 goals in 36 competitive appearances across all competitions for Stuttgart, which caught the eye of many big clubs around Europe, but it was Newcastle who have won the race for his signature.

Woltemade joins a list of high-profile Stuttgart departures this summer, including the likes of Enzo Millot, Jacob Bruun Larsen, and Anrie Chase, as head coach Sebastian Hoeneß looks to rebuild a team that can carry on last season’s legacy and compete for more silverware.