West Ham United have announced the permanent transfer of Niclas Füllkrug for an undisclosed fee from Borussia Dortmund. Füllkrug has joined the Hammers on a four-year-deal.
The Hannover-born striker has became West Ham's fifth signing of the summer transfer window, following Wes Foderingham, Luis Guilherme, Max Kilman, and the recently-signed Crysencio Summerville.
Despite only playing for now-former club Borussia Dortmund for one season, Füllkrug was able to help his side reach a Champions League final, scoring three goals during their impressive run.
Furthermore, Füllkrug is also a German international player, and has featured frequently under both Hansi Flick and Julian Nagelsmann. Füllkrug averages a goal every 64 minutes for Germany and has scored a combined five goals over the last two international tournaments.
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What to expect from Niclas Füllkrug
What you can expect from a striker like Füllkrug is consistency. The numbers for Germany speak for themselves, though even at club level, he thrives.
Nicknamed "Lücke" due to the gap in his teeth, Füllkrug signed for Dortmund from Werder Bremen - a club which Technical Director, Tim Steidten, worked for from 2008 to 2019.
It was Steidten that presented the idea of signing Füllkrug for West Ham, and now the Hammers have got their man.
Alongside consistency, Füllkrug also has his fair share of other traits. Standing at 6'2 and being a physically imposing striker has its' benefits, proving himself to be fantastic in the air and showing that he can be a threat from set pieces. Impeccable ball-striking is another forte of Füllkrug, as we saw in EURO 2024.
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"I’m delighted to be here"
Speaking to West Ham's media team, Füllkrug expressed his happiness to join the club and work under the likes of Lopetegui and Steidten.
I’m delighted to be here, and I can’t wait to get out on the pitch with my new teammates.
"I have been thinking about West Ham for a long time now - I know the Technical Director Tim Steidten very well, because we have history at Werder Bremen together, and I have watched some games and seen how much quality there is in the team.
“The chance to play under the Head Coach [Lopetegui] is also really exciting. His playing style is important for me, and I am confident that under him I will be able to perform at my best, and score lots of goals.", he stated.
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"I love being close to supporters"
Füllkrug also expressed his desire to have a close relationship with the Hammers supporters - something he has a history with doing at previous clubs.
“I love being close to supporters, and I’m really looking forward to meeting the West Ham fans. I have a very good feeling at the moment - I’m strong, fit and in shape - and I just want to get out there and start playing for them.”
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Steidten shares his thoughts
Technical Director, Steidten, shared his thoughts on signing the striker, stating that he "knows what he will bring to us" - Steidten and Füllkrug worked together at Werder Bremen during Füllkrug's first stint at the club as a 19-year-old.
“We are delighted to have signed Niclas,” said Steidten.
“I have worked with him previously and I know what he will bring to us in terms of his physical and finishing qualities, as well as his character and mentality.
It is rumoured that Füllkrug will take the number 24 shirt, as per the trusted ExWHUEmployee.
