• 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.

• The 18-year-old centre-back has agreed an eight-year contract with the Bundesliga club
• He will transfer from Birmingham Legion FC in the United States
• The defender played for USA at the U17 World Cup and led the U18 team
• He will first play for Werder Bremen’s reserve side when he arrives in July

German football club Werder Bremen have reached an agreement to sign young American defender Ramiz Hamouda. The 18-year-old will join the Bundesliga side from Birmingham Legion FC.

Leading transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed the deal. Hamouda will sign a contract that runs until 2031. This means he will stay at the German club for eight years.

The Athletic also reported this news. They noted that Hamouda became eligible to join a European club on Tuesday when he turned 18. This birthday allowed him to complete the transfer.

Hamouda has already played for his country at a high level. He represented the USA at the U17 World Cup this season. In March, he wore the captain’s armband for the U18 national team during friendly matches.

The young player started his career at the Sporting Kansas City academy. He moved to Birmingham Legion in 2024. Despite his young age, he played 36 games in the USL Championship.

Werder Bremen plan to bring Hamouda to Germany in July. However, he will first play a few more matches for Birmingham Legion. When he arrives, he will start with the club’s second team.

Hamouda mainly plays as a centre-back. He can also play as a left-back. His family background is Sudanese.

The Bundesliga club are also watching another young player. They expect to receive big offers for 19-year-old Karim Coulibaly after his strong first season.

• Werder Bremen reject opening offer from TSG Hoffenheim for midfielder Jens Stage
• Chairman Klaus Filbry confirms the bid did not match the player’s market value
• Danish international remains under contract at the Weser-Stadion until 2028
• Recent €15 million sale of Mio Backhaus to Freiburg eases financial pressure to sell
• Hoffenheim target Stage as replacement for Stuttgart-bound Grischa Prömel

Werder Bremen have turned down an initial approach from fellow Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim for midfielder Jens Stage. The Sinsheim-based club tabled a bid believed to be in the region of €10 million, which the Bremen hierarchy dismissed as insufficient.

Klaus Filbry, chairman of the Green-Whites, confirmed the rejected proposal in an interview with Kicker. He stressed that Stage remains tied to the club on a long-term deal.

“First and foremost, Jens is under a long-term contract with us,” Filbry stated. “It is true that Hoffenheim made an offer, but it was not in line with market value. Therefore, it is not something we need to engage with further.”

The north German club currently holds a strong negotiating position. They recently completed the sale of goalkeeper Mio Backhaus to SC Freiburg for a reported fee of €15 million. This influx of cash means Werder are under no immediate financial pressure to offload their Danish international.

“There are now hardly any clubs in the Bundesliga that are not dependent on transfer income,” Filbry added. “However, we are generally in a strong position and do not have to approve every transfer.”

Stage has already agreed personal terms with Hoffenheim, who view him as the ideal candidate to replace Grischa Prömel. The latter is set to join VfB Stuttgart. It remains unclear whether Hoffenheim will return with an improved bid that meets Werder’s valuation.

• 24-year-old winger Eren Dinkci returns to SC Freiburg after loan stint at 1. FC Heidenheim
• German forward reveals ambition to score at Weserstadion before retirement
• No formal talks with Werder Bremen yet but Bremen-born star refuses to rule out homecoming
• Former youth product left Werder for €5 million in 2024 after 50 senior appearances

Eren Dinkci has refused to dismiss rumours linking him with a return to Werder Bremen. The 24-year-old winger recently finished a loan spell at 1. FC Heidenheim during the second half of the 2025/26 campaign.

The German forward will now head back to SC Freiburg. His contract with the Black Forest club remains active. However, a permanent move this summer remains possible.

“I still have an agreement with Freiburg. The current plan is to go back there,” Dinkci told Bild. “But we have not had any serious discussions yet.”

A switch back to Werder Bremen could offer an appealing option. Dinkci came through the youth system at the Weserstadion club. He was born in the city and still holds strong ties to the area.

“There has been no contact with Werder so far,” he admitted. “But I would never close the door completely. As someone from Bremen, I have one special wish. I want to find the net at the Weserstadion. I have never done that before.”

Dinkci played 50 matches for Werder between 2022 and 2024. He found the back of the net once and set up two goals. Freiburg paid €5 million to secure his signature in 2024.

• Clemens Fritz retains his position as Werder Bremen’s managing director for sport following a vote of confidence from the supervisory board.
• The Bundesliga club endured a challenging 2025/26 season, finishing 15th and narrowly avoiding relegation.
• The board admitted to mistakes in transfer strategy and the appointment of former coach Horst Steffen.
• Fritz is credited with securing Daniel Thioune as head coach, who stabilised the team and ensured top-flight survival.
• The club now demands stable development, attacking flair, and clear improvement in the upcoming campaign.

Werder Bremen have announced that Clemens Fritz will continue in his role as the club’s managing director for sport. The Bundesliga side confirmed on Sunday that their supervisory board has offered full support to the sporting chief.

The decision follows a difficult 2025/26 campaign where the Green-Whites finished in 15th place. The club faced a serious relegation scare before securing their status in Germany’s top division.

In a statement, the supervisory board accepted that errors were made throughout the season. They admitted that the appointment of head coach Horst Steffen last summer failed to produce the desired results. The board also acknowledged poor judgement in their transfer policy and general planning.

However, they praised Fritz for recognising these problems and taking quick action to fix them. They highlighted his professional handling of the situation in bringing Daniel Thioune to the club. Thioune successfully steadied the ship and guided the team to safety.

Looking ahead, the club expects significant improvement next term. They want to see stable progress, greater consistency, and a sharper attack. The board also wants a squad that displays energy, passion, and an attractive style of play.

Specific targets for the new season will be decided once the club completes its squad planning. The board expressed strong belief that Fritz is the right person to lead this rebuild and put the club back on the right path.

• SC Freiburg agree terms to sign Mio Backhaus from Werder Bremen
• Transfer fee set at approximately €15 million
• 22-year-old goalkeeper will sign contract until 2031
• Move may prompt current keeper Noah Atubolu to exit the club

SC Freiburg have reached an agreement to sign goalkeeper Mio Backhaus from Werder Bremen. The Bundesliga side will pay around €15 million for the 22-year-old.

Sky Germany reports that the deal is close to completion. Backhaus will sign a six-year contract that runs until 2031.

The German shot-stopper is set to swap clubs within the top flight. Werder Bremen have accepted the offer for their young keeper.

His arrival at Freiburg may force current number one Noah Atubolu to leave. The Breisgau side’s keeper has attracted interest from several European clubs.

Serie A giants AC Milan and Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion are both tracking Atubolu. They could make offers if the keeper becomes available.

• Stage accepts five-year contract with Hoffenheim running until 2030
• Initial transfer bid of €11 million plus bonuses submitted by Hoffenheim
• Werder Bremen expected to demand higher fee for their captain
• Midfielder scored 10 goals in 29 league appearances last season

Denmark midfielder Jens Stage is close to joining TSG Hoffenheim. The 29-year-old has reached an agreement over a move from Werder Bremen.

According to Sky Germany, Stage has accepted personal terms on a new deal. The contract will keep him at the club until the year 2030.

The two clubs are now negotiating the transfer fee. Hoffenheim have made an opening offer of €11 million. This package includes additional payments linked to performance.

Werder Bremen are likely to reject this first proposal. Stage plays a vital role in their midfield and serves as club captain. The German side value him highly and want a larger sum.

Stage has been a key figure at the club for several years. He was their top scorer in the recent campaign. He found the net ten times in 29 Bundesliga matches.

Hoffenheim are working to complete the signing quickly. They aim to strengthen their squad before the new season begins.

• Mio Backhaus agrees to join SC Freiburg from Werder Bremen
• Transfer fee of €15 million plus €3 million bonuses makes him Freiburg’s record signing
• German goalkeeper rejects interest from Premier League clubs
• Contract until 2031 agreed according to Sky Germany
• Move signals likely exit for current Freiburg keeper Noah Atubolu

SC Freiburg look set to beat English Premier League clubs to the signature of Mio Backhaus. The 23-year-old goalkeeper has chosen to stay in Germany rather than move abroad.

According to reports from Sport BILD and Sky Germany, the Europa League finalists have reached an agreement with the shot-stopper. He will sign a contract that runs until 2031.

The transfer will cost Freiburg €15 million upfront. They may pay another €3 million in bonuses later. This makes Backhaus the most expensive player in the club’s history.

Werder Bremen will make their largest ever profit from selling a goalkeeper. The deal is likely to be announced officially within the next few days.

This signing probably means Noah Atubolu will leave Freiburg. The club is unlikely to spend record money on a goalkeeper to sit on the bench. Atubolu appears to have played his final match for the club in Istanbul.

• Jens Stage is negotiating a summer move from Werder Bremen to TSG Hoffenheim
• The Danish midfielder was Werder’s leading goal scorer in the 2025/26 campaign with 10 goals
• No final agreement exists yet; clubs must still settle on a transfer fee
• Stage would replace Grischa Prömel, who is joining VfB Stuttgart on a free transfer
• The 29-year-old remains under contract at Werder Bremen until 2028

Werder Bremen risk losing one of their star players this summer. Danish midfielder Jens Stage is holding serious discussions with TSG Hoffenheim over a potential switch to the Sinsheim club.

Sky Germany reports that talks between the player and Hoffenheim are now at an advanced stage. While no deal is signed yet, Stage is open to the move. However, Hoffenheim must first agree a transfer fee with Werder Bremen to complete the signing.

The 29-year-old would fill the gap left by Grischa Prömel. The latter is set to leave Hoffenheim on a free transfer and join VfB Stuttgart at the end of the season.

Stage enjoyed a productive campaign in the 2025/26 season, finishing as Werder’s top scorer with 10 goals from midfield. Despite his importance to the team, he could depart two years before his contract expires in 2028.

• German goalkeeper Mio Backhaus expected to exit Werder Bremen
• Transfer could be finalised within the next two weeks
• Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion are frontrunners
• Fee expected to reach approximately €20 million
• Werder Bremen plan to sign Arsenal loanee Karl Hein as replacement

German goalkeeper Mio Backhaus appears ready to leave Werder Bremen this summer. The 22-year-old could complete his transfer away from the Bundesliga side within the next two weeks.

Several major clubs want to sign the player. English Premier League teams Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion are the main candidates. Italian club Inter Milan and German sides Borussia Dortmund and SC Freiburg are also interested.

German media sources report that the transfer fee will be around €20 million. Sky Germany says talks are happening now with different clubs.

Werder Bremen want to sell Backhaus because they plan to sign a new first-choice keeper. The club hopes to buy Karl Hein from Arsenal after his loan spell. The Estonian player would take the number one position, meaning Backhaus must find a new club.