West Ham United has signed German striker Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund for a reported fee of £27.5 million. The announcement was made on Monday.
During his only season at Dortmund, Fullkrug scored 16 goals, contributing to the team’s run to the Champions League final last season. Additionally, he netted twice while primarily coming off the bench in all five matches as Germany advanced to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, hosted in Germany.
Fullkrug, known for his physical presence as a center-forward, has garnered significant support from fans in Germany, many of whom advocate for his inclusion in the starting lineup over Arsenal’s Kai Havertz during the Euros.
“I think the Premier League is the best league in the world, and for me it is the right time to move over to England and play for a big club like West Ham,” Fullkrug stated in a club release.
West Ham has been proactive in the transfer market during what has been a relatively quiet window for many Premier League clubs. In addition to Fullkrug, the team has also acquired wingers Crysencio Summerville and Luis Guilherme, along with defender Max Kilman, as they prepare for Julen Lopetegui’s inaugural season in charge.
Tim Steidten, West Ham’s technical director and a former colleague of Fullkrug at Werder Bremen, expressed his satisfaction with the signing: “We are delighted to have signed Niclas. 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.”
