Niclas Füllkrug ultimately only needed a few weeks to remind Germany what a scorer he was. Loaned by West Ham to Werder Bremen this summer, the 33-year-old striker has had an impressive start to the season, with already twelve goals in ten matches in all competitions. In the Bundesliga, he has nine goals in eight days and is ahead of Harry Kane and Michael Olise in the scorers’ rankings. A newfound efficiency which contrasts with his last two years, during which the German international had gradually disappeared from the radar. Since his return to the banks of the Weser, Füllkrug has found his bearings and above all his instinct in front of goal. Author of two consecutive doubles against Paderborn and Mainz, he also distinguished himself against Dortmund, his former club, before continuing his momentum. His performances allow Werder, fifth in the championship, to nurture new ambitions after several more complicated seasons.
To measure the extent of this renaissance, we must look back at the German’s eventful career. In 2022, Füllkrug was still playing in the second division with Bremen, whom he helped return to the elite thanks to his 19 goals. The following season, he finished joint-top scorer in the Bundesliga with sixteen goals, before joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2023. With BVB, he discovered the big European evenings and notably played in the final of the Champions League in 2024. But his departure for West Ham, for around 30 million euros, had brutally slowed down his progress. Between injuries and adaptation difficulties, the center forward had never managed to establish himself in the Premier League. His time at AC Milan, where he was loaned at the start of 2026, was not more convincing. After these disappointing experiences, returning to Bremen seemed like an opportunity to relaunch his career. The bet is now largely successful, in a club where he once again benefits from the trust of those around him and a central place in the offensive animation.
Jürgen Klopp opens the doors of the Mannschaft to him again
His performances ended up convincing Jürgen Klopp, who decided to recall him to the German team for this gathering. Absent from the selection since June 2025, Füllkrug is among the 24 players selected to face Serbia on November 13, then the Netherlands, three days later, in the Nations League. A choice which contrasts with the first decisions of the new coach, more focused on young people since taking office. But faced with the striker’s newfound efficiency, Klopp did not hesitate for long. “ He has an incredible influence on the game. Not just with his goals, but also with the way he behaves “, explained the former Liverpool manager. The technician also insisted on the importance of the environment in which his player plays, believing that his return to Bremen had allowed him to regain essential confidence. “ If the European Championship took place tomorrow, we would of course take it “, he added, before qualifying his summons as a decision “ relatively easy “.
This return comes at the right time for a German selection still looking for bearings. Since Klopp’s arrival, the Mannschaft have won only one of their four Nations League matches and occupy third place in their group, behind Greece and the Netherlands. Above all, none of the attackers called up during previous meetings had managed to score. With his 14 goals in 24 caps, Füllkrug has experience and efficiency which could offer a new solution to the coach. He who had not been selected for the 2026 World Cup thus finds an opportunity to settle into the German group. “ I am happy with this selection. I was able to benefit from the good performances of our team and I also see it as great recognition for the entire group. “, he confided on the Werder website. At 33, after going through two particularly trying seasons, Füllkrug is now preparing to return to the Germany jersey with a confidence he has not known for a long time.
