Nikolas Nartey is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious injury in VfB Stuttgart's first competitive match of the season. The 26-year-old Danish midfielder sustained a thigh muscle injury just nine minutes into the DFB-Pokal match at Hansa Rostock. This setback hits the club at the worst possible time ahead of their Bundesliga opener away to Bayern Munich.
Nartey had cemented a starting role during pre-season and was surprisingly set to begin the campaign as the right-back. This position was open because first-choice Lorenz Assignon is still recovering from shoulder surgery. Manager Sebastian Hoeneß showed more faith in Nartey than in Josha Vagnoman, who completed the entire pre-season but struggled for consistent form. Nartey's versatility across multiple positions made him a key asset for Hoeneß, who must now turn to Vagnoman as an emergency solution.
Nartey's injury is just one part of a larger selection crisis. Chris Führich also left the cup match in Rostock with a thigh issue. In total, Hoeneß could be without up to eight potential starters for the trip to Munich. Alongside Nartey, Führich and Assignon, Dan-Axel Zagadou (thigh), goalkeeper Dennis Seimen (thigh), centre-backs Ramon Hendriks and Luca Jaquez (both muscle issues), and new signing Leo Sauer (muscle tear) are all out or doubtful. The current injury list can be viewed on our injuries page.
For Nikolas Nartey personally, this latest setback is a brutal twist in a career plagued by injuries. Over the past five years, he missed over 100 games for VfB, including a two-and-a-half-year absence due to a knee cartilage injury. The low point was so severe he even contemplated retirement. The club kept faith in him, however, extending his contract until 2028 in May. Sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth said at the time, "Niko can provide important impulses for our game in different positions." Those impulses are now missing exactly when they are needed most.
The personnel crisis forces VfB to improvise. In goal, veteran Fabian Bredlow will replace the injured Dennis Seimen, as the club deliberately decided against a transfer market reaction. The tasks ahead remain daunting. Josha Vagnoman now faces the challenge of containing Bayern's wing star Luis Diaz on the right flank. The squad must handle this difficult period using its existing depth. The upcoming Bundesliga fixtures are listed in our fixtures calendar. The VfB Stuttgart squad available for these challenges is detailed on the squad page.
