EFL club to receive second transfer fee for player sold earlier this summer in bizarre twist

Leicester could receive a second transfer fee for Bilal El Khannouss this summer, just months after the Moroccan’s departure.

Attacking midfielder El Khannouss completed a permanent move to Bundesliga sideStuttgart in May, having spent the 2025/26 campaign on loan from the Foxes.

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The Morocco international joined the German side last summer following Leicester’s relegation from the Premier League.

His initial loan move included an option to buy, which was subject to appearances, and Stuttgart announced in May that they had activated this option.

Reports in Germany claim Stuttgart paid around €17million (£14.6m), on top of the £2.6m loan fee they paid last year, to sign El Khannouss.

It was also reported that Leicester had a sell-on clause in the transfer, which they could now be set to benefit from earlier than expected.

Not another one?

According to Sky Germany‘s Florian Plettenberg, El Khannouss is open to leaving Stuttgart, just over two months after his permanent arrival.

While the Bundesliga outfit are keen to keep hold of the 22-year-old, they are likely to demand a substantial fee should he depart.

Plettenberg reports that the Swabians could slap a €60m (£51.3m) asking price on El Khannouss, as well as bonuses.

While the playmaker’s interested parties are not currently clear, two Premier League clubs are rumoured to have made initial enquiries.

Should a move materialise, El Khannouss could make a return to English football less than a year after his initial departure from Leicester.

He joined the Foxes in 2024 from Belgian side Genk, and made 39 appearances, scoring three goals and providing seven assists in his debut season.

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But with the 2016 English champions suffering relegation to the Championship, El Khannouss was allowed to depart on loan at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

Any prospect of him returning this summer then became unlikely after Leicester were relegated again in April, this time to League One.

The Foxes are now bidding to bounce back to the second tier at the first time of asking, with new manager Russell Martin tasked with overseeing their promotion charge.

Busy summer

Having already earned a substantial figure from El Khannouss’ permanent exit, Leicester would no doubt welcome an additional fee for him in the same transfer window.

Reported Premier League interest in the creative star comes after he featured six times for Morocco at the World Cup in North America.

El Khannouss started in all of his country’s games as they were ultimately knocked out in the quarter-finals by France.

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This was his second World Cup campaign, having also been part of the Morocco squad that reached the semi-finals in 2022.

Prior to this summer, El Khannouss made 39 appearances in all competitions for Stuttgart.

He scored nine goals and registered a further nine assists to help his side to a fourth-place Bundesliga finish and secure Champions League qualification.