After several years on the outside, it was time for Julian Green to take a step back and admit the time had come. It was time to leave a superpower in Bayern Munich, a club he had known for six years. It was time to take on a new challenge, one that would finally allow him to grow into a player that can be a regular contributor for both his club and the U.S. Men’s National Team. It was time for self-discovery, admitting that he would need to take a step back in order to take two or three forward.

Most importantly, though, it was time to reignite a career, one that had stalled quite a bit since that memorable goal in Salvador, Brazil.

On Wednesday, Green finally took the leap by signing with VfB Stuttgart, currently of the 2. Bundesliga. The club currently sits third in the German second division, firmly in the promotion race heading into Germany’s winter break.

“I look forward to the task here,” Green told the club’s website. “It is important that the change has already finished before the winter break. I am looking forward to the start of the training and to be on the pitch with my teammates.”

In some ways, yes, the move seems like a step back. Any move away from Bayern Munich will, as few clubs in the world can match the talent, resources and clout of the German powerhouse. But, with just six months left on his contract and no spot on the field in sight, it was a move that needed to be made if Green was ever to become anything more than a highly-touted prospect.

There’s nothing wrong with admitting what everyone already knew. With stars like Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben still within the squad, Bayern’s wing spots were hard to come by. Up-and-comers Douglas Costa and Kingsley Coman have already surpassed the grooming stage en route to becoming bonafide international contributors. The forward position, a spot that Carlo Ancelotti saw Green occupying, is Robert Lewandowski’s for years to come. Even if something happened to one of the club’s regulars, Bayern’s financial resources have the club just a phone call away from another star to replace them. Green was never going to get the reigns without first proving himself.

Still, that’s not to say that Green didn’t try and snatch the opportunities that came his way. His efforts in preseason proved to be his most impressive performances since the 2014 World Cup. Green’s recent performances with the USMNT seemed like a resurgence. An October goal in the DFB-Pokal served as a memorable sequence for a player that finally had a true Bayern moment.

Despite all of the ups and downs at Bayern Munich, though, the most trying and damning period of Green’s career was certainly his loan spell to Hamburg, a move that was supposed to groom him for bigger things. It failed, as Green’s stint was largely forgettable. Playing for a relegation contender, Green was never able to thrive or play his game and, quite simply, the move proved to be a disaster.

The situation at Stuttgart, though, is vastly different. A legitimate promotion contender, Green joins one of the 2. Bundesliga’s better teams, one that has long been a regular in the top division. At Stuttgart, Green will be with a team that is able to attack, unlike the Hamburg team of 2014. The club is currently second in the league in goals scored, and Green will certainly have weapons around him as well as competition to push him as he battles for a spot in the lineup.

“Stuttgart is the favorite in most games,” Green said. ” Of course, it is not always easy to get three points in every game, but we want to pass in the opponent’s half full-throttle, then we will also be successful and achieve our goals.”

Up top, Stuttgart has a pair of tough German strikers: Simon Terodde and Daniel Ginczek. The former has already scored 11 goals for the club this season. The latter would certainly be playing at a top-division club if he wasn’t plagued by injuries. Japanese forward Takuma Asano adds depth, and has done well to replace Ginczek this season.

That likely pushes Green to the wing, where he can benefit from the playmaking ability of Alexandru Maxim. The Romanian midfielder remains sneakily good on the ball, even if he’s never quite reached the high ceiling many foresaw for him when he initially broke through at the club. Portuguese winger Carlos Mane likely has the right wing spot locked down, while Bundesliga veteran Tobias Werner holds down the left. It’s not an easy group to break into but, due to their relegation, it’s not quite as deep a wing pool as the one that pushed Jerome Kiesewetter out earlier this year.

Green’s versatility will certainly help him. If Ginczek continues to be sidelined, Green could certainly jump in at the forward position, one which he shined in during his later months with Bayern Munich. His ability to play on the left or right side could see him displace either Mane or Werner, giving manager Hannes Wolf plenty of options heading into the second half of the 2. Bundesliga campaign.

Like any player, Green will face his ups and downs with Stuttgart. As he battles back from an injury of his own, Green now heads towards a winter break with the club, a second preseason that should prove beneficial for a player integrating to a whole new group of players. There are challenges ahead, and Green will certainly be unable to skate by them on talent alone.

Those challenges, though, are finally the right ones. After years of sitting and waiting, it was time for Green to take action. Now that he has, Green must seize the opportunity and finally push towards becoming the best player he can be. He may never be Bayern Munich quality, and he may never live up to the lofty expectations thrust upon him when he was called up to the 2014 World Cup, but the 21-year-old winger can still be pretty damn good. Now’s his chance to prove it.