A fuel injector for direct injection of fuel into a combustion chamber includes: a housing having at least one combustion chamber-side injection aperture; a linearly movable valve needle for opening and closing the injection aperture; a solenoid; an armature which is linearly movable by the solenoid; and a first sleeve attached to the armature. A first stop surface facing away from the combustion chamber is formed on the first sleeve, and a second stop surface facing the combustion chamber is formed on the valve needle, the first and second stop surfaces striking one another when the valve needle and/or the armature is/are moved linearly.