Hamburg completes swoop for Filip Kostic from Stuttgart

Hamburg has completed the signing of Filip Kostic from VfB Stuttgart, reportedly trumping the club-record fee it paid for Rafael van der Vaart in 2012.

The 23-year-old Serbian was deployed on the left wing for the majority of the 2015-16 Bundesliga term, grabbing five goals and assists apiece, but moves from relegated Stuttgart to continue terrorising right-backs in the German top flight.

Kostic pens a five-year contract with his services apparently coming at a cost that could reach €17 million.

The former FC Groningen man's arrival marks another piece of smart business by Die Rothosen manager Bruno Labbadia. Attacking midfielder Alen Halilovic, 20, has also joined from Barcelona, while the controversial Kerem Demirbay was offloaded to TSG Hoffenheim.

Hamburg begins its 2016-17 Bundesliga campaign with a visit from FC Ingolstadt on Aug. 27.