Stoke City striker Milan Smit has joined Darmstadt, in the German second tier, on a season-long loan, seven months after signing for the Potters.
The Dutch forward arrived at Stoke from Go Ahead Eagles in January, initially on loan before the move was made permanent in May when a conditional obligation in the deal was triggered. He had scored nine times in 41 Eredivisie appearances since joining Go Ahead from Cambuur in 2024, and helped the club win the KNVB Cup for the first time in their history and reach the Europa League, where he scored three times in six matches.
It proved a difficult adjustment. Smit made 13 league appearances for Stoke, starting six of them, and scored just once, in a 3-3 draw at home to Ipswich in March. He had arrived in a squad short of forwards after injuries to Robert Bozenik, Divin Mubama and Sam Gallagher.
Stoke sporting director Jonathan Walters said the loan would let Smit play regularly again. "We all know Milan's opportunities have been limited and, following conversations with him and his representatives, we agreed this move allows him to play regularly in a competitive division," Walters told the club website.