Niclas Füllkrug has admitted his move to West Ham United did not work out and suggested he may have been wrong to swap Borussia Dortmund for the Premier League.
The Germany international joined West Ham in August 2024 when he was 31, signing a four-year contract after reaching the Champions League final with Dortmund.
In a fresh interview with Frankfurter Neue Presse, reported by Hammers News, Füllkrug reflected candidly on his difficult time in east London.
The striker said that, with hindsight, his spell in England was not a success before admitting:
“Perhaps I shouldn’t have gone to England.”
The full comments are carried in Hammers News’ report on Füllkrug’s West Ham admission.
Füllkrug explains West Ham decision
Füllkrug revealed that the security offered by West Ham played a significant role in his original decision.
The Hammers handed the striker a four-year contract at the age of 31, with West Ham’s official player profile confirming he signed in August 2024.
However, injuries repeatedly disrupted his spell in England.
Füllkrug has now suggested that adapting to the physical demands of Premier League football later in his career proved more difficult than anticipated.
He also highlighted differences between England and Germany involving training, recovery and medical care.
The striker is currently back in Germany after West Ham sanctioned a season-long loan to Werder Bremen.
ReadWestHam reported in August that Füllkrug returned to Werder without a purchase option or loan fee.
Werder subsequently confirmed the move for the 2026/27 season.
Füllkrug remains a West Ham player
Despite returning to Bremen, Füllkrug remains contracted to West Ham until 2028.
That means his future could become a West Ham issue again next summer unless another permanent solution is found.
The striker made a significant financial sacrifice to secure his Bundesliga return, as ReadWestHam covered when Füllkrug completed his West Ham exit on loan.
His latest comments offer perhaps the clearest acknowledgement yet that the original move ultimately failed to deliver what either player or club expected.
