Werder Bremen released two players on transfer deadline day and is urgently seeking reinforcements for the Bundesliga season. The club is reacting to a poor start that saw them lose 4-1 to SC Freiburg, leaving them 15th in the table with zero points and a goal difference of -3.
As reported by Sportschau, Samuel Mbangula and Julian Malatini did not participate in training on Monday as they held talks with other clubs and have now been released. Simultaneously, the club is working on a loan deal for Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Youri Regeer. Werder Bremen's financial means for these operations are described as extremely limited.
Which players were released?
Samuel Mbangula and Julian Malatini have left Werder Bremen with immediate effect. Both players were absent from Monday's training session due to negotiations with potential new clubs. This departure creates a personnel gap, felt more acutely given the current injuries to Felix Agu and Jens Stage. The full squad status can be checked on our squad page.
How is Werder responding to the season start?
The heavy opening day defeat highlighted the need for action at Werder Bremen. With just one goal scored and four conceded, the team has the league's worst goal difference and trails leaders Bayern München by three points. Head coach Niko Kovac addressed the tense situation: "They will stay here and will continue to work hard because there is damn little time. We have some options, some alternatives." The search for new players is complicated by the club's tight budget.
What happened on transfer deadline day?
The summer transfer window in the Bundesliga closed on September 1, 2026. Beyond Werder's activities, other clubs were also busy. Eintracht Frankfurt signed 26-year-old Lilian Brassier from Stade Rennes on a contract until 2029. Media reports suggest a transfer fee of up to ten million euros. 1. FC Köln, meanwhile, loaned 19-year-old Mikey Moore from Tottenham Hotspur until June 30, 2027, without an option to buy.
At Borussia Dortmund, sporting director Lars Ricken and executive Ole Book did not travel to the DFB-Pokal match against HEBC Hamburg to focus on transfer dealings. Alexander Wehrle, CEO of VfB Stuttgart, announced plans to release one to three players before the deadline, naming Ermedin Demirovic and Bilal El Khannouss as potential candidates.
What's next for Werder on the pitch?
The next challenge for Werder Bremen comes on September 5, 2026, when they host RB Leipzig, currently third in the table, at the Weserstadion. This home game presents an opportunity to reverse the negative trends of the early season and secure their first points. All upcoming match dates are listed on our fixtures page. The team is under pressure to finalize its squad planning ahead of this important fixture.
