Al‑Dakhil's sore knee delays his return to VFB Stuttgart

Ameen Al‑Dakhil, 24‑year‑old Belgian defender, continues to battle a knee pain that has kept him out of any minutes during the friendly matches against Heidenheim and Greuther Fürth, while VFB Stuttgart had invested nearly €9 million to get him to play more.

Knee pains and recent absences

The defender missed both friendly fixtures, unable to play a single minute because of the knee issue. According to the club, the injury comes at the worst time, as the club was counting on him to earn playing time.

Coach Sebastian Hoeneß tried to put it in perspective: “It won’t last long. But he has missed two matches again. It’s obviously frustrating for the boy,” he said. After Alexis Saelemaekers, it is another Red Devil absent from the squad for a long time.

€9 million investment and outlook

Stuttgart had spent around €9 million two years ago to sign Al‑Dakhil from Burnley. The club hoped to give him more playing time in the weeks to come.

Since his arrival, the Belgian international has featured in only 21 official matches and, in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League, has accumulated just eight minutes of play. This season, he is still struggling to get regular playing time.

Sebastian Hoeneß hopes to be able to rely on Al‑Dakhil again in about two weeks, the aim being to keep him fully fit for an extended period. The club has only rarely been able to fully assess the qualities that justified the investment.

For the defender, the scenario remains the same: recover, return and try to earn his place. He also hopes to get back with the Red Devils, for whom he already has six caps.