Degen reunited with Gross at Stuttgart

Philipp Degen has swapped Liverpool FC for fellow UEFA Europa League play-off contenders VfB Stuttgart, signing a season-long loan deal with the Bundesliga side.

The Swiss international full-back featured in just seven Premier League games last term and has now been deemed surplus to requirements by new Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson. It will be a second stint in the German top flight for Degen, who spent three years with BV Borussia Dortmund prior to his move to Anfield. Before that, he plied his trade with FC Basel 1893, working under current Stuttgart coach Christian Gross.

"I know Philipp very well and rate him highly both as a football player and as a person," said Gross. "He is a very athletic and fast player who often looks to push forward. Philipp wants to take his chance at VfB." Stuttgart face Slovakian side ŠK Slovan Bratislava in the UEFA Europa League play-offs, while Liverpool must overcome Trabzonspor AŞ in order to reach the group stage. The first legs will take place on 19 August, with the return games scheduled for the following Thursday.