Werder Bremen begins the 2026/27 Bundesliga season with a clear mission. Following a disappointing 15th-place finish last term, head coach Daniel Thioune is banking on the return of striker Niclas Füllkrug and a refreshed squad to meet their objectives. This is reported by the official Bundesliga website. Currently, the club sits in 15th place with zero points after the first matchday, following an opening defeat.
What is Werder's starting point?
The previous season's record was sobering. Werder ended the 2025/26 campaign in 15th position, surviving relegation by just three points. This standing is the foundation for Daniel Thioune's planning. His primary target for the new season is clearly defined. "Our first target has to be to get to 40 points as quickly as possible," the coach said. He added, "It makes sense to keep our feet on the ground, while still having a clear target to aim for." The team is aiming for its third top-half finish in four years.
What changes were made to the squad?
Werder Bremen's squad underwent significant changes during the summer break. The most notable new signing is 33-year-old striker Niclas Füllkrug. The veteran returns to the club where he scored 49 goals in 124 appearances and helped secure promotion back to the top flight in 2022. He was even the Bundesliga's joint-top scorer in the 2023/24 season. At the same time, several players departed. Goalkeeper Mio Backhaus, midfielders Romano Schmid, Karim Coulibaly, and Leonardo Bittencourt all left the club. Loan players Yukinari Sugawara, Jovan Milosević, and Victor Boniface returned to their parent clubs, and Maximilian Wöber also moved on. Young talents brought in to add fresh energy include 22-year-old playmaker Chuki from Valladolid, 20-year-olds Dariusz Stalmach and Kenny Quetent, and 19-year-old Darwin Soylu. The current squad overview can be found on our squad page.
Who is missing due to injury?
A major setback hit Werder even before the season started. Danish midfielder Jens Stage, who scored ten goals in 29 league appearances last season, suffered a thigh muscle injury on the eve of the opener against Freiburg. He is expected to be out until 2027. The team must compensate for this gap. In addition to Stage, Felix Agu is also currently unavailable. All current absences are documented on our injuries list. Defensive responsibility and leadership will now fall more heavily on captain Marco Friedl. The former Bayern Munich defender brings the necessary experience and consistency needed during this phase.
How was pre-season and what's next?
In pre-season, Werder Bremen showed mixed form. They recorded wins against Verden (6-2), Fagiano Okayama (2-0), Bochum (2-0), and Energie Cottbus (4-2). A draw against Paderborn (2-2) and a loss to Auxerre (1-0) completed their preparations. The Bundesliga start, however, did not go as planned. An opening defeat leaves them three points behind leaders Bayern Munich. The next challenge awaits on September 5th with a home match against third-placed RB Leipzig. This is followed by an away game at Cologne. The complete schedule can be viewed on the fixtures page. The team has scored one goal but conceded four in its first league game, resulting in a negative goal difference of minus three. To reach the targeted 40 points, the defense must become more solid. The coming weeks will show if the blend of experienced heads like Füllkrug and young talents under Thioune can deliver.
