FC Utrecht has taken Artem Stepanov on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, and a purchase option is included in the deal. In the first half of this season, Stepanov played on loan for FC Nürnberg. Stepanov said it feels very good to be in Utrecht and that the club convinced him with its clear sporting vision, confidence in young players, and strong focus on development. He added that the club has great ambitions and a clear plan to continue growing. Stepanov also stated his main goal is to get better every day, be valuable to the team, and help the club achieve the best possible results. He said he wants to show his best qualities, score goals, provide assists, and contribute to FC Utrecht's victories. He also promised to give everything and fight for the club in every match.

An agreement is in place for eighteen-year-old striker Artem Stepanov to join FC Utrecht on loan from Bayer Leverkusen. The move is a response to Utrecht seeking to address issues with their strikers, which included Noah Ohio's departure to Real Valladolid. The Ukrainian youth international spent the first half of the season on loan at 1.FC Nürnberg in Germany's second division, where he did not score in thirteen league games. It is not known if technical director Jordy Zuidam has negotiated an option to buy in the deal with the German club. Stepanov, who has yet to play an official match for Leverkusen, has a contract in Germany until mid-2027. According to Transfermarkt, he has a value of 1.5 million euros.