VfB Stuttgart have strengthened their defence ahead of their return to the Bundesliga by signing Dinos Mavropanos on loan from Arsenal.

Mavropanos spent the second half of 2019/20 on loan at Bundesliga 2 side Nuremberg, but the 22-year-old centre-back will move up a level next season after linking up with promoted Stuttgart.

With American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo at the helm, Stuttgart bounced back to the German top flight after finishing second behind Arminia Bielefeld in Bundesliga 2.

"The switch to VfB is a new challenge in my career," Greece U21 international Mavropanos said. "I thank the management team and the coach for placing their trust in me. My goal is to repay that trust with good performances, and by playing my part in a successful season for VfB."

New VfB Stuttgart signing Dinos Mavropanos (l.) was a towering presence for Nuremberg in the 2019/20 campaign. - Sportfoto Zink / Daniel Marr via www.imago-images.de/imago images/Zink

Mavropanos made several appearances for Arsenal towards the end of both the 2017/18 and 2018/19 English Premier League campaigns. The 6'4" defender is no stranger to Stuttgart sporting director Sven Mislintat, who previously served as the Gunners' head of recruitment.

"We've known each other since our time at Arsenal, so I've been observing his development for a long time," Mislintat told the Stuttgart website. "Konstantinos is strong in the tackle, quick off the mark, and his ability and ambition are a very good match for us."

The new Stuttgart number five penned a fresh contract with Arsenal before joining the 2006/07 German champions on loan for the upcoming season.

The last of his 12 appearances for Nuremberg came in a relegation play-off against Ingolstadt on 7 July, when he helped the Bundesliga 2 side avoid the drop thanks to a 2-0 win.

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