News Focus
- Florian Kastenmeier will leave Fortuna Düsseldorf as a free agent at the end of June.
- Werder Bremen plan to sign the 28-year-old shot-stopper on a free transfer.
- Bremen coach Daniel Thioune previously made Kastenmeier captain at Düsseldorf.
- The German keeper is expected to challenge Estonian international Karl Hein for the starting position.
- Kastenmeier has only one season of Bundesliga experience, which came in 2019/20.
Werder Bremen are moving to strengthen their goalkeeping department ahead of the new campaign. The Bundesliga side have set their sights on Florian Kastenmeier, who will become a free agent when his contract expires this month.
The 28-year-old is currently at Fortuna Düsseldorf. The club have decided not to extend his deal following their relegation to the 3. Liga. This drop to the third tier has forced the goalkeeper to seek opportunities elsewhere.
A key factor in this potential move is the relationship between Kastenmeier and Bremen manager Daniel Thioune. The coach previously handed the keeper the captain’s armband during their time together in Düsseldorf. This existing bond could give Bremen an edge over other clubs chasing the free agent.
The German club recently sold Mio Backhaus to SC Freiburg for a reported €12 million. Karl Hein is now set to become the first-choice goalkeeper. Kastenmeier would initially act as his deputy, though he will hope to push for a starting role.
Despite attracting interest from several teams across Europe, the chance to reunite with Thioune may prove decisive. The keeper has limited top-flight experience, having featured in the Bundesliga solely during the 2019/20 season.