Yakin follows Streller to Stuttgart

'Top choice'
Three weeks after signing Streller for €3m, Stuttgart coach Felix Magath has reportedly paid €2.5m to tempt Yakin to the Bundesliga. The 26-year-old attacking midfield player was thought to be on the verge of a move to Turkey's Fenerbahçe SK last week, but said at the weekend "the Bundesliga has always been my top choice".

PSG move
Yakin fleetingly joined Paris Saint-Germain FC in the summer for €1.7m but the contract was cancelled after the player underwent an operation on his groin, despite his new employers warning him against surgery. Yakin returned to Basel and agreed a contract until June 2005. He has scored three goals in six domestic appearances this season as well as featuring in the UEFA Cup.

Second place
Yakin's European involvement means he cannot play in the UEFA Champions League, where Stuttgart next meet Chelsea FC. However, Magath was still keen to strengthen a side also pushing for domestic honours after a weekend victory saw them climb to second place in the Bundesliga. He said: "When we heard Yakin was available we felt we had to join the hunt."

'Bright future'
Yakin, whose elder brother Murat played for Stuttgart in the 1997/98 season, added: "After nine years playing in Switzerland I was desperate for a change. VfB have got a bright future to look forward to and I want to be part of it."