'Drama of leaving long gone' - Niclas Füllkrug embracing Werder Bremen return
Niclas Füllkrug is back at Werder Bremen, back among the goals and back where his senior career began.
The 33-year-old forward returned to Werder on loan for a third spell in the summer and has already made his mark, scoring in the DFB Cup first-round victory at LSK Hansa and the Bundesliga win over RB Leipzig on Matchday 2.
"I always try to leave the romantic stuff aside when I think about it all, because I feel like a full Werder player again," the West Ham United loanee told the Bundesliga. "For me, the drama of leaving is long gone and behind us. I'm just a Werder player now and working with the team to get the best possible results."
Füllkrug scored 49 goals in 124 competitive appearances across his first two Werder spells, helping the club win promotion back to the Bundesliga in 2022. His second spell peaked in 2022/23, when he registered 16 goals and five assists in 28 Bundesliga games, finishing joint-top of the scoring charts with Christopher Nkunku and earning a move to Borussia Dortmund.
Füllkrug's performances also led to a Germany debut in November 2022, aged 29 years and 280 days. The old-school centre-forward scored seven goals in his first seven senior internationals and now has 14 in 24 appearances, although he has not featured for his country since June 2025.
At Dortmund, the German scored 12 Bundesliga goals and three in the UEFA Champions League as BVB reached the 2023/24 final, where they lost 2-0 to Real Madrid. He joined West Ham in August 2024, scoring three goals in 29 appearances. His six-month loan at AC Milan in the second half of 2025/26 brought just one goal in 20 games, but proved a much more positive experience.
"AC Milan went well for me. I had a lot of good games there. I was consistently fit, didn't miss a game, was always able to play, trained at the highest level, had a great footballing experience, a good life off the pitch. I could've had a few more goals, but I stand by the fact and say it was a good six months for me."
His first appearance back at the Weserstadion was one to remember. Füllkrug scored against Leipzig with his family watching on, having walked out alongside his daughter before the game. "It was an amazing feeling and just great on that stage, at home, first game in front of the east stand. It just all fell into place."
The scale of the reaction to his return also surprised him. "I'd expected a bit of a media frenzy, but I hadn't expected it to be so big with so much attention. But I'm pleased with it. It's sort of a recognition."
Füllkrug has spent around 12 years at Werder, from the academy to the first team, and believes that bond between player and club still carries weight in the modern game. "I think identification and authenticity can have a big effect on fans and the world of football."
After spells with Greuther Fürth, Hannover, Nuremberg, Dortmund, West Ham and Milan, Füllkrug is focused on making the most of his latest stint at Werder. And looking back to the 18-year-old who made his senior debut for the four-time Bundesliga winners, his advice is simple: "Have patience and be relaxed. Everything will come when it's meant to."
