West Ham United will reportedly receive no loan fee for Niclas Füllkrug’s return to Werder Bremen, with fresh details emerging over the unusual agreement taking the striker back to Germany.
Füllkrug is expected in Bremen on Tuesday morning for a medical after West Ham and Werder reached an agreement during rapid negotiations on Monday.
According to BILD, the 33-year-old will join his former club on a one-year loan. There will be no purchase option and no loan fee, while Füllkrug has agreed to sacrifice a significant proportion of his salary to make the transfer possible.
West Ham accept unusual Niclas Füllkrug exit
The structure means West Ham have found a temporary solution to one of Nuno Espírito Santo’s biggest remaining squad problems without securing a permanent departure.
Füllkrug remains contracted to the Hammers until 2028.
His position had become increasingly difficult following an unsuccessful loan spell with AC Milan, and ReadWestHam identified Füllkrug as one of three situations Nuno needed to resolve before the Championship campaign began.
The Germany international had been training away from Nuno’s main group while West Ham searched for an exit.
Werder have now offered him the opportunity to return to the club where he previously became a Bundesliga Golden Boot winner.
The agreement does come at a cost for West Ham.
Receiving no loan fee and agreeing a deal without a purchase option means Füllkrug could technically return to east London next summer with another year remaining on his contract.
However, reducing the immediate wage commitment and removing a player outside Nuno’s plans gives West Ham greater flexibility as they reshape their attacking options.
That process has accelerated significantly this week.
Joel Piroe is closing in on a move from Leeds United after West Ham moved quickly for one of Nuno’s preferred striker targets.
Füllkrug’s expected departure will therefore create space for a very different centre-forward while bringing his difficult West Ham spell to at least a temporary end.
Providing Tuesday’s medical is completed successfully, his return to Bremen should soon become official.
