VfB Stuttgart are targeting a summer transfer for Ghanaian midfielder Salis Abdul Samed, currently under contract with Ligue 1 side RC Lens until June 2028.
The 26-year-old, who joined Lens from Clermont in July 2022, spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Sunderland in England’s Championship.
Despite hopes of regular minutes, he managed just 10 appearances throughout the campaign, prompting discussions over his future in northern France.
Bundesliga outfit VfB Stuttgart have identified Abdul Samed as a key target as they begin rebuilding their squad following a ninth-place finish in Germany’s top flight.
The Ghana international, capped 19 times for his country, has impressed Stuttgart’s sporting hierarchy with his tenacity, ball recovery skills, and tactical discipline.
The German side sees the midfielder—who emerged from the Jean-Marc Guillou academy in Abidjan—as a valuable addition to their engine room.
A four-year contract is reportedly on the table, with a proposed transfer fee of €6 million aimed at convincing Lens to part ways with the player.
Abdul Samed is understood to be intrigued by Stuttgart’s project and views a move to the Bundesliga as a significant challenge and opportunity for career growth.
Despite being tied to Lens until 2028, the midfielder’s lack of recent playing time has raised questions about his long-term role at the club.
With Lens open to restructuring their squad and Stuttgart eager to strengthen their midfield, negotiations could soon accelerate.
Abdul Samed is currently valued at €5.5 million by Transfermarkt and earns an annual salary of €840,000.
Should the move materialise, it would mark the Ghanaian’s third top-tier European league experience after stints in Ligue 1 and the English Championship.
Having established himself in France with Clermont and Lens before his short-lived loan in England, the 26-year-old now appears poised for a new chapter in Germany.
VfB Stuttgart, meanwhile, are positioning themselves to make a decisive move as they look to inject fresh energy into their squad for the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign.
