Midfielder Wouter Burger leaves Stoke for Hoffenheim Bundesliga transfer

Wouter Burger, a 24-year-old midfielder, has transferred from Stoke City to Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim for an undisclosed fee that Stoke described as a substantial profit. Burger, who joined Stoke from Basel in 2023 for around £4.3 million, made 86 appearances and scored five goals during his time at the bet365 Stadium, also occasionally captaining the team. Despite struggling with an ankle injury and nearly leaving in January when Stoke rejected a £5 million bid from FC Midtjylland, Burger regained form under manager Mark Robins and helped Stoke secure their Championship status. Stoke's sporting director Jon Walters noted that after initially rejecting Hoffenheim's offer in January, they decided not to block the transfer following further discussions this summer, respecting Burger's desire to play in the Bundesliga. Hoffenheim's sporting director praised Burger as a strong, physical box-to-box player in his prime, highlighting his tackling and attacking qualities. Burger expressed gratitude toward Stoke City and its supporters in a farewell message, wishing the club success in the future.