Germany international Niclas Füllkrug has reflected on his return to Werder Bremen and explained why his familiar surroundings have helped him rediscover his best form following two challenging years abroad. The 33-year-old striker has enjoyed an outstanding start to the 2026/27 Bundesliga campaign, scoring nine league goals since returning to Werder Bremen from West Ham United during the summer transfer window.
Füllkrug’s performances have also earned him a recall to the German national team under Jürgen Klopp, bringing an end to an absence of more than a year. Speaking at Tuesday’s DFB press conference in Herzogenaurach, Füllkrug was asked to reflect on his experiences in England and Italy, where injuries and inconsistent playing time prevented him from establishing himself at West Ham and AC Milan.
The veteran centre-forward nevertheless rejected the suggestion that his time abroad had been entirely unsuccessful, emphasising the importance of his family and the positive experiences he enjoyed away from football. The particular adjective Füllkrug took issue with was “terrible”.
“Let me first emphasize that there was never a time in my life during which things were going ‘terrible’,” Füllkrug said in response to a question about his disappointing spell in England. “There are many components to life. Football is important, but my daughter and my family are central. I was able to take a lot from those years and build some fond memories with my family.”
“I simply couldn’t keep fit,” Füllkrug continued. “That’s all. I didn’t forget anything during these past two years, and I believe I’ve proven that now. I think the key was to be healthy and be on a team that passes to you in the crucial moments. Full praise to my teammates at Werder. I benefit enormously from the way the lads are playing the ball to me.”
Füllkrug explains why Werder Bremen feels like home
Füllkrug’s return to Bremen has already proven to be one of the Bundesliga’s most successful summer moves. The striker quickly reestablished himself as a central figure in Werder’s attack, combining his goalscoring instincts with strong hold-up play, aerial ability, and an increasingly important role in the team’s attacking combinations.
His contributions have been particularly significant for Daniel Thioune’s side, with Füllkrug emerging as one of the Bundesliga’s leading goalscorers during the opening months of the campaign. Beyond the tactical and sporting considerations, however, Füllkrug believes that his longstanding personal connection to Werder has played a decisive role in helping him settle back into Bundesliga football.
“Werder is simply my home,” Füllkrug said when pressed further about how his performances had improved in a Werder shirt. “It’s my footballing home. As you all know, one sleeps the best in one’s own bed. I immediately felt comfortable there. I joined the academy at the age of 14 and, in my estimation, I believe about 70-90 percent of the same people are on staff there.”
“I’m healthy and there’s a medical department there that takes good care of me,” Füllkrug continued. “They’ve managed to get me back on track and ensure that I haven’t missed any training sessions. And we have a great team from which I benefit. The transfers that we brought in this summer have all done great. I just happen to be one of them.”
