According to consistent media reports, VfB will pay around €25 million to Wolfsburg. “Bild” reports that this is a fixed fee with no additional bonus payments included in the deal. Pejčinović is expected to earn around €2.5 million per season in Stuttgart. His five-year contract does not contain a release clause.
From Bayern and Augsburg to Wolfsburg
Born in Munich to Montenegrin parents, Pejčinović began playing football at SC Bajuwaren München before joining the FC Bayern academy. In 2017, he moved to FC Augsburg’s youth system, before Wolfsburg signed him as a 17-year-old in the summer of 2022. Even then, Pejčinović was regarded as one of the more promising German centre-forwards of his age group.
With the “Wolves”, he initially made his mark at youth level. Pejčinović scored 36 goals in 38 appearances for the U19s. His Bundesliga debut followed in May 2023, although an immediate breakthrough with the first team did not materialise. Wolfsburg therefore sent him on loan to Fortuna Düsseldorf for the 2024/25 season.
In Düsseldorf, injuries prevented Pejčinović from playing regularly throughout the campaign. Nevertheless, he scored five goals in 20 competitive appearances. The loan proved to be an important step in his development before he returned to Wolfsburg and finally established himself at Bundesliga level last season.
Breakthrough despite Wolfsburg’s relegation
His first major Bundesliga performance was particularly spectacular. In a 4-3 defeat against SC Freiburg in December 2025, Pejčinović scored his first three Bundesliga goals in the same match, becoming the youngest Wolfsburg player ever to score a hat-trick in the competition.
Overall, the 1.88-metre striker scored twelve goals in 34 competitive appearances last season. Eight of those came in 18 Bundesliga matches between December and May, while he also found the net in the relegation play-off against SC Paderborn. His goals were ultimately not enough to prevent Wolfsburg from going down.
The striker subsequently saw an opportunity to take the next step in his career. Wolfsburg managing director Dieter Hecking confirmed that Pejčinović had explicitly expressed his desire to leave the club. The player himself stressed that his move was “not a decision against VfL”, but rather an opportunity to continue his development at a Champions League club.
Stuttgart beat Leipzig and Porto to his signature
The transfer negotiations stretched over several weeks. Stuttgart identified Pejčinović as their preferred target early on, while Wolfsburg remained firm over their asking price. In the end, VfB’s offer of around €25 million appears to have largely met the relegated club’s demands.
Stuttgart were not the only club interested in the striker. FC Porto also wanted to sign Pejčinović, while RB Leipzig explored a potential move as well. According to “Bild”, Leipzig considered making a late push after another striker deal had fallen through. Pejčinović, however, had already decided at an early stage that Stuttgart was his preferred destination.
After completing the move, the 21-year-old confirmed that his talks with the VfB hierarchy had been decisive. Stuttgart board member for sport Fabian Wohlgemuth described it as a strong signal that a player who was “highly sought-after on the market” had chosen VfB.
Competition with Undav and Demirović
Pejčinović will not automatically be guaranteed a starting place in Stuttgart. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß already has two experienced centre-forwards in Deniz Undav and Ermedin Demirović. The new arrival is expected to increase competition while also providing cover for the two established strikers during a season featuring Bundesliga, Champions League and DFB-Pokal commitments.
VfB are therefore paying a considerable fee for a player who is still at the beginning of his Bundesliga career. With his physical presence, instinct inside the opposition penalty area and impressive goalscoring record, however, Pejčinović offers an intriguing overall package. After making his personal breakthrough during a difficult season for Wolfsburg, he is now taking the next step at a club where competition will be stronger, but the international stage considerably more attractive.
