Niklas Füllkrug has hinted that he struggled to find the same emotional connection at West Ham United that he enjoys at Werder Bremen, following his return to Germany on loan.
The striker endured an injury-hit spell in east London after joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2024, scoring just three goals in 29 appearances.
Now back at Werder Bremen, Füllkrug has rediscovered his goalscoring form and spoken about why the Bundesliga club holds a special place in his career.
Füllkrug reflects on emotional connection to Werder Bremen
Speaking to German outlet RND, Füllkrug described Werder Bremen as a club with an environment he considers difficult to match.
He said he knew of no club “that offers a better environment than Werder Bremen”.
The Germany international then reflected on the challenge of developing similar feelings elsewhere.
“If, as a player, you allow yourself to feel a special emotional connection to a club, it becomes harder to feel those same emotions elsewhere. That is something I’ve experienced over the last few years,” he explained.
Although Füllkrug did not specifically name West Ham in those comments, his remarks suggest he found it difficult to replicate the connection he had previously experienced at Bremen.
West Ham struggles followed impressive Dortmund spell
West Ham signed Füllkrug after an impressive 2023/24 campaign in which he scored 15 goals for Borussia Dortmund and helped the club reach the Champions League final.
He also impressed for Germany at Euro 2024, scoring against Scotland and Switzerland.
However, injuries disrupted his time at the London Stadium.
He missed 27 matches through two separate injuries during his first season and suffered further setbacks in 2025/26.
Those problems prevented him from establishing himself as the reliable goalscorer West Ham had hoped to sign.
Werder Bremen return revives Füllkrug's career
Füllkrug accepted a wage reduction to secure his loan move back to Werder Bremen.
The decision has brought an immediate improvement in his performances.
He has scored three goals in four Bundesliga appearances this season, alongside another in the DFB Cup.
His resurgence has also raised the possibility of a return to the Germany national team.
Key Points
- Niklas Füllkrug has spoken about his emotional connection to Werder Bremen following his West Ham struggles.
- The striker scored just three goals in 29 appearances for West Ham after joining in 2024.
- Injuries severely disrupted his two seasons in east London.
- Füllkrug accepted a wage reduction to return to Werder Bremen on loan.
- He has scored four goals in five matches across all competitions since returning to Germany.
What's Next?
Füllkrug will aim to maintain his goalscoring form at Werder Bremen and strengthen his case for a Germany recall. His longer-term future remains unresolved, with his current spell at the Bundesliga club arranged as a loan from West Ham.
0 Comments
First read message
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *