HITC Sport understands the Stoke winger has agreed a loan move to Germany.
Stoke City winger Thibaud Verlinden has agreed a deal to join Bundesliga II side St Pauli on loan for the second half of the season, HITC Sport understands.
Verlinden is highly regarded within the corridors of power at Stoke and he was handed a new five-year deal at the club last summer.
The 18-year-old made his debut in a League Cup win over Rochdale earlier this season, but has been unable to break into Mark Hughes’ starting XI at the bet365 Stadium.
Stoke beat a host of top clubs to Verlinden’s signature in 2015 when they signed him from Standard Liege at the age of 15.
Verlinden, who is the son of former Belgium goalkeeper Dany Verlinden, has been earning rave reviews at Stoke’s academy since making the move to the Potteries.
Stoke feel the next stage in Verlinden’s development is to get valuable first-team experience under his belt and he will get that at St Pauli.
Stoke and St Pauli enjoy a partnership agreement, with the two clubs signing a formal deal in the summer to work with each other in developing players, and Verlinden is the first one to make the move to Germany.
Verlinden has already linked up with St Pauli for training during their winter break and the deal is expected to be confirmed soon.
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