Stuttgart: VfB Stuttgart has announced the signing of 20-year-old midfielder Chema Andres from Real Madrid, with the Spanish youth international penning a contract through June 2030 and taking the number 30 shirt. This move marks a significant step in Andres's burgeoning career, transitioning from one of Europe's biggest academies to the competitive Bundesliga.

Andres began his football journey at five with Betera, then spent three seasons in UD Levante’s youth system before joining Real Madrid's academy in 2018 at just 13. He steadily progressed through Los Blancos' ranks, spending the 2024/25 season with their second team, Real Madrid Castilla, in the Spanish third division. During this period, the holding midfielder registered three assists in 35 appearances and contributed to two goals in 13 UEFA Youth League outings. He also made three senior appearances for Real Madrid's first team (two in La Liga, one in the Copa del Rey) and was part of Xabi Alonso’s squad for the FIFA Club World Cup this summer.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Andres stated, "The Bundesliga is a great league – I’ve always dreamt of moving to a special club in one of the top leagues and taking my next steps there. I want to do my bit to ensure VfB continue their success and help us win a lot of games together."

A current Spanish youth international, Chema Andres, has earned 14 caps for his country at U18 and U19 levels, scoring once. He was also a key member of the Spain squad that clinched the European Under-19 Championship in 2024.

Fabian Wohlgemuth, VfB’s board member for sport, underscored the significance of the signing: "In Chema Andrés, we’ve signed a player who is a very good fit for the profile we’re looking for in the defensive midfield position. Chema is already performing at a high level, he’s well educated in a footballing and tactical sense, and as a young player, he still has huge potential to improve." Wohlgemuth expressed delight that Andres chose VfB, warmly welcoming him to Stuttgart. Reports indicate the transfer fee was around €3 million, with Real Madrid potentially retaining a buy-back clause.

With inputs from IANS