Fullkrug returns to Werder Bremen on loan

Werder Bremen has re-signed Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug on a season-long loan from West Ham United, the Bundesliga club announced Tuesday.

The 33-year-old returns to Bremen three years after leaving for Borussia Dortmund, beginning another spell with the club where he came through the youth ranks and later established himself as a Bundesliga player.

Fullkrug was the Bundesliga's joint top scorer with 16 goals for Werder in the 2022-23 season before joining Dortmund, where he scored 15 goals and provided 10 assists in 43 appearances across all competitions.

"We are very happy that we were able to complete the transfer of Niclas. Fulle has made a clear commitment to Werder," head of professional football Peter Niemeyer said. "Niclas knows the Bundesliga and can help us immediately."

Fullkrug said his attachment to Werder played a decisive role in the move and revealed he had accepted financial concessions to make the loan possible.

"I have never made a secret of the fact that Werder is a very special club for me," he said. "It was important for me to play for Werder again. I am really excited about Bremen and the Bundesliga."

Head coach Daniel Thioune described Fullkrug as a "classic goalscorer" whose physical strength, aerial ability and hold-up play would add another dimension to Bremen's attack.

"He is also an absolute leader who drives things forward on and off the pitch," Thioune said.

Fullkrug began his career at Werder before spells with Greuther Furth, Nuremberg and Hannover. He returned to Bremen in 2019 and helped the club win immediate promotion back to the Bundesliga following relegation in 2021.

After one season with Dortmund, Fullkrug moved to West Ham in 2024, but his time in England was disrupted by injuries. He spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan, scoring once.

Fullkrug has scored 14 goals in 24 appearances for Germany and represented his country at the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.

He has scored 56 goals in 157 Bundesliga appearances, along with 47 goals in 135 matches in Germany's second tier.

Fullkrug joined Bremen training on Tuesday as Thioune's side prepares for the new Bundesliga season.