West Ham’s Niclas Füllkrug is on fire in the Bundesliga.
No, that’s not a new type of injury the German has sustained – although I wouldn’t put it past him. The 33-year-old has been in great form at Werder Bremen since his loan move from the Hammers in August.
Following his return to Bremen, Füllkrug has scored four goals in five games. That’s one goal more than he has managed in his entire West Ham career.
This hot streak follows a disappointing loan spell to Milan last January. Considering Füllkrug and West Ham’s dreadful form at the time, it seemed baffling how the striker appeared to fail upwards and secure a move to a big European team.
The German international only found the net once in twenty Serie A games for the Rossoneri, a return that left West Ham fans feeling somewhat vindicated.
Füllkrug was clearly not part of Nuno Espírito Santo’s plans upon his return to Stratford, and so was shipped back to Germany on another loan.
It has been equal parts depressing and fascinating to witness the 33-year-old’s career since his move to West Ham in 2024.
The less glamorous alternative to Jhon Durán, Füllkrug’s transfer wasn’t met with hype from fans, but he was expected to find the net for the Hammers after an impressive 2023/24 campaign that saw him play in the Champions League final for Borussia Dortmund.
Füllkrug had a pretty solid reputation as a prolific Bundesliga striker. But if the last two years prove anything, it’s that he is essentially just that – a good Bundesliga striker.
The former Dortmund man always came across well and had a nice, endearing personality (on-screen at least). But it appears as though the Irons signed a man who could do it in Germany and Germany alone.
A moment that I always think back on when it comes to Füllkrug was when he was interviewed for Sky Sports Germany in May 2025, at the end of his first season in East London.
When asked about living in London, Füllkrug answered, “I’m not the big city type… I’ve always lived in the countryside. That’s where I want to live. I don’t necessarily belong in the city. I need to see trees and nature around me.”
Given the fact that he could’ve easily just moved to the Essex countryside and still be relatively close to Stratford, this comment makes me believe he just wanted to go back to Germany – and makes his move to Milan all the more confounding.
Ultimately, it’s no surprise that he is doing well again in a team he appears genuinely happy to represent. If he keeps up this form, West Ham might at least get some kind of money for him. But don’t be surprised if he spends another prolonged spell on the sidelines before the season is out.
