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Holger Badstuber likely to continue career with promoted Stuttgart

Despite originally hoping for a move abroad, it appears Holger Badstuber will be staying in Germany.

According to kicker, the 28-year-old left-back has agreed to join Stuttgart on a free transfer.

Badstuber, a former Germany international, spent two years in Stuttgart's youth academy before moving to Bayern Munich, where he made his first-team debut in 2009.

After battling a number of injuries and losing his place on the first team under Carlo Ancelotti, he secured a loan in January to Schalke, making 10 Bundesliga appearances.

Bayern announced in May that Badstuber would be allowed to leave the club on a free transfer, and last month, he said that he wanted to "develop in another country."

Although he had been in discussions with Sevilla and Sporting Lisbon, according to kicker, Badstuber has chosen to join newly promoted Stuttgart -- the club he bypassed in favor of Schalke in January.