adminWest Ham United’s Niclas Füllkrug has made a strong start to the season at Werder Bremen after the Championship side allowed him to join them on loan during the summer transfer window.
The Hammers reportedly spent around €30m to bring the striker from Borussia Dortmund in 2024.
He recorded 15 goals and 10 assists during his only campaign at BVB but struggled to make an impact at West Ham. By comparison, the Germany international ended his first season in London with three goals and two assists in 20 appearances.
In his second campaign, the 33-year-old failed to score or register an assist in nine appearances. As a result, he was loaned to AC Milan in January. Füllkrug’s difficulties continued in Italy, where he scored just once in 20 appearances for the Serie A club.
The Rossoneri opted against making his move permanent, meaning he returned to West Ham in the summer. The Hammers had dropped into the Championship and, in August, permitted him to join Werder Bremen on loan.
West Ham flop explains reason for good start
Niclas Füllkrug has already equalled his combined four-goal tally for West Ham United and AC Milan in just five appearances for Werder Bremen.
Last week, the forward questioned how he had managed to make such a positive start after leaving the Championship side.
This week’s print edition of SportBild featured an interview with the German, in which he explained why his spell at West Ham failed and expressed his desire to move beyond that difficult period.
“You only need to look at my medical history: I suffered a lot, but almost never because of muscle injuries. I can’t really explain why things went so badly for me at West Ham. England just isn’t the right fit for me, either as a player or as an athlete,” he said.
“Now I just hope everything stays the way it is.”
Injury problems while at West Ham
The striker had regularly experienced calf issues before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2024. He missed one match for BVB due to rest. However, Niclas Füllkrug encountered persistent fitness problems during his time at West Ham United.
An Achilles tendon issue in September 2024 ruled him out for 86 days.
He then suffered a hamstring injury in January 2025 and spent 81 days on the sidelines.
During his second season, the German missed 48 days as a result of two separate injuries.
These setbacks not only affected his availability but also had an impact on his performances whenever he was fit to play.
It is evident that the move to London has not worked out, and it would not be surprising if Füllkrug looked to secure a permanent departure from Nuno Espírito Santo’s side.
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