VfB Stuttgart have extended Laurin Ulrich 's contract through 2028 and sent the highly rated midfielder on a season-long loan to Bundesliga newcomers SC Paderborn. The 21-year-old becomes the latest addition to an extensive Paderborn Bundesliga rebuild. According to Transfermarkt , a €600,000 loan fee is attached to the deal. Ulrich made his senior top-flight debut against Bayer Leverkusen in 2022, but that remains his only Bundesliga appearance to date.
Ulrich had previously been contracted to Stuttgart through 2027. The one-year extension prior to his departure makes clear that VfB continue to view their academy product as a player with a potential future at the club. The move will provide Ulrich with something Stuttgart have not yet been able to offer him consistently: Bundesliga football.
Paderborn will represent Ulrich's third loan assignment in the space of two years. The first, at SSV Ulm in 2024/25, proved unsuccessful. Ulrich made only five appearances and one start before returning to Stuttgart early. His subsequent spell with 1. FC Magdeburg proved considerably more productive. Ulrich established himself as a central figure in midfield during a difficult 2025/26 campaign, starting 32 of his 33 league appearances and registering three goals and three assists. Across all competitions, he featured 36 times.
Ulrich joined Stuttgart's academy in 2016 and progressed through the club's youth ranks before playing an important role for VfB II. His development there included helping the reserves secure promotion to the 3. Liga before his successive second-tier loans. Stuttgart sporting executive Fabian Wohlgemuth consequently continues to regard Ulrich as a product of the club's long-term development system.
For Paderborn, Ulrich provides another technically gifted attacking-midfield option following the departure of Mika Baur to Celtic . Baur's exit generated at least €5.25m and represented a club-record sale. Paderborn have subsequently reinvested heavily following promotion.
Ulrich is among a large group of newcomers that also includes Hoffenheim loanees Deniz Zeitler and Nahuel Noll . Transfermarktreports that those three loan arrangements alone have cost approximately €1.85m.
Paderborn are also preparing to break their incoming transfer record with the expected €3m acquisition of former Bayern prospect Gabriel Vidovic from Dinamo Zagreb. Ulrich himself is currently valued at approximately €3.5m after his strong season in Magdeburg.
"Laurin Ulrich is a special player for us," VfB Board Member for Sport Fabian Wohlgemuth noted in Stuttgart's official club statement. "Someone who received our training from a very young age and has progressed from there into the 2. Bundesliga with consistent performances in Magdeburg. He carries VfB within him."
"The loan to Paderborn now gives Laurin the opportunity to take the next steps in his career in the Bundesliga," Wohlgemuth continued. "We wish Laurin a successful time at SC Paderborn and will monitor his development closely."
"Laurin is an enormously technically accomplished player who possesses very high game intelligence," SCP sporting director Sebastian Lange added. "Despite his young age, he has already gathered plenty of experience in the 2. Bundesliga and 3. Liga. Last season he also assumed an influential role in Magdeburg's midfield. We are convinced that Laurin will take the next step with us and that, away from the pitch as well, he is an excellent fit for SCP07."
For Stuttgart, the formula is therefore straightforward: retain contractual control while allowing Ulrich to test himself at the highest domestic level.
For Ulrich, after one failed loan and one successful one, the third assignment finally provides the opportunity he has been working towards since his Bundesliga debut four years ago — proving that his development can translate into regular top-flight football.
