Official | Werder Bremen bring Niclas Füllkrug back to the Bundesliga

Official | Werder Bremen bring Niclas Füllkrug back to the Bundesliga Werder Bremen have officially confirmed the return of Niclas Füllkrug. The 33-year-old German international joins his former club on a season-long loan from West Ham United without a purchase option. No loan fee is reportedly due, while Füllkrug has accepted a reduction in salary in order to facilitate the move. The veteran striker remains under contract with relegated West Ham through 2028. The transfer had accelerated rapidly over the past few days. Get German Football News reported on Sunday that momentum behind a Bremen return was increasing before reporting on Monday that Füllkrug was travelling to Bremen for his medical . For Füllkrug, the deal marks a second return and third spell with the club at which he began his professional career. The Hannover native joined Werder’s academy at the age of 13 and made his Bundesliga debut in 2012. After spells with Greuther Fürth, Nürnberg and Hannover 96, Bremen paid approximately €6.5m to bring their former academy player back in 2019. That return initially featured more adversity. Füllkrug tore his ACL shortly after arriving and was also temporarily suspended following a dispute with current managing director Clemens Fritz. Yet his second Werder chapter ultimately produced the finest period of his career. Füllkrug helped lead Bremen back into the Bundesliga following relegation in 2021 before producing 21 goal contributions during the 2022/23 top-flight campaign. His performances earned him a Germany debut and the Bundesliga’s joint top-scorer crown alongside another current Bundesliga return candidate , former Leipzig striker Christopher Nkunku. Borussia Dortmund subsequently paid more than €17m for him. After registering 15 goals and ten assists across 43 competitive appearances during his only BVB season, Füllkrug moved to West Ham for approximately €27m. The upward trajectory stopped there. Repeated injury problems disrupted his spell in London, while a loan move to AC Milan during the second half of last season produced only one goal in 20 appearances. Werder hope Füllkrug can rediscover old form Füllkrug’s attachment to Bremen has remained obvious even during his years away. When he appeared at Diego’s farewell match at a sold-out Weserstadion in March 2025 while injured, he jokingly described his role as being there “as a mascot, as the good-mood bear.” Werder require goals after finishing last season with one of the Bundesliga’s least productive attacks. Cedric Itten and 20-year-old Salim Musah entered the final stages of pre-season as Thioune’s primary centre-forward options. Füllkrug supplies Bundesliga experience, physical presence and leadership neither currently possesses to the same degree. At the same time, the veteran returns three years older and two difficult seasons abroad. His previous status as one of Werder’s most important players cannot simply be assumed inside a squad now led by figures such as Marco Friedl, Amos Pieper and Jens Stage. The striker himself has left little doubt about how badly he wanted the move. Statements on Niclas Füllkrug’s Werder return “We’re very pleased that we were able to complete the transfer of Niclas,” Werder head of professional football Peter Niemeyer said. “Fülle has made a clear commitment to Werder. Niclas knows the Bundesliga and will definitely be an immediate help to us. We know that the last two years haven’t gone quite the way he imagined, but we’re convinced that he can successfully continue his career at Werder.” “Niclas is a classic goalscorer, physically strong, very good in the air, technically good, and capable of holding the ball up,” head coach Daniel Thioune added. “He will definitely enhance our game. He is also an absolute leader who sets the example both on and off the pitch. He still knows quite a few players from his previous time at Werder. The same applies to the staff, so he won’t need any time to settle in.” “I’ve never made any secret of the fact that Werder is a very special club for me,” Füllkrug said. “That’s why I was also prepared to make financial sacrifices to make the loan happen. It was important to me to play for Werder again. The talks with those responsible were good. I’m really excited about Bremen and the Bundesliga.” GGFN  |  Peter Weis