Niclas Füllkrug has returned to Werder Bremen following a secret meeting. The 33-year-old striker completed the transfer last week after a potential move to Serie A's FC Venezia fell through.
The decisive conversation took place on August 12 in Hannover, as reported by sport.de. Füllkrug was on a home visit and met without his agent with Werder bosses Clemens Fritz, head of professional football and scouting, Klaus Filbry, commercial director, and president Markus Pilawa. Sporting plans and financial details were discussed openly. A verbal agreement was reached that same Wednesday evening.
How was the deal with West Ham United finalized?
Bremen prepared the transfer paperwork. Füllkrug traveled to London and managed his departure from West Ham United again without an agent. The English club agreed to a loan without a fee and without an option to buy. West Ham United will reportedly continue to pay a part of his salary. Füllkrug himself gave up money for the return to Werder Bremen. There was talk of a high six-figure sum.
The forward commented on this move in characteristic fashion. Niclas Füllkrug said: "Verzichten tue ich nicht. Ich werde einfach nur in einer anderen Währung bezahlt. Die lautet Emotion und Leidenschaft."
What long-term promise did Werder Bremen make?
Werder Bremen scored points with Füllkrug by offering a perspective for his post-playing career. The club has committed to giving the veteran a job at the club. Specifically, Füllkrug is to first complete a trainee program where he gets to know several departments. He could then choose between a coaching or an official career. A move into the media branch and a job as a TV expert also appeals to the striker. No final decision on this question seems to have been made yet. Füllkrug is initially focused on sport.
What is the sporting situation Füllkrug returns to?
Füllkrug joins a team that finished the previous Bundesliga season in 15th place. Werder Bremen collected 28 points from 29 games with seven wins, seven draws and 15 defeats. The goal record of 32 scored and 52 conceded, with a difference of minus 20, highlights the need in attack. In the final table, SVW finished 48 points behind champions Bayern Munich. The next challenge is already on August 30: an away match against eighth-placed SC Freiburg. You can check the full schedule on our fixtures page.
The return of an experienced goalscorer like Füllkrug is an important signal for the squad. His know-how could provide a boost to a young attack that scored too few goals last season. The current squad composition can be viewed in our squad section. For Werder Bremen, the task is to fix the deficits from the last campaign and achieve a better start to the season. The team's statistical development can be tracked under stats.
