BERLIN — Borussia Dortmund have signed Germany international and last season’s Bundesliga top scorer Niclas Fuellkrug from Werder Bremen on a three-year deal to boost their frontline after a lacklustre start to the season, the club said.
Dortmund, who missed out on the Bundesliga title last season after dramatically slipping up on the final matchday, needed an 88th minute goal by Donyell Malen to beat Cologne 1-0 in their opener.
Last week they managed only a 1-1 draw at VfL Bochum with their attack looking toothless for much of the game.
Fuellkrug, who passed a medical late on Thursday, topped the scorer list last season with 16 goals, the same number as Christopher Nkunku.
“Thanks to strong performances he has become a pillar in attack for the national team,” said Dortmund sports director Sebastian Kehl.
“He is powerful in the air, physically present and is strong in the one-on-ones and is uncomfortable for opponents. With these abilities he has the profile we were looking for.”
The 30-year-old Fuellkrug earned his first cap last year shortly before the World Cup in Qatar, where he was one of Germany’s few standout performers as the team failed to progress beyond the first round.
“I was extremely happy when the offer came because the step to this club was what I was wishing for,” Fuellkrug said. “I can develop and gain new experiences. I am ready to go to help the team be as successful as possible.”
Dortmund is also competing in this year’s Champions League.
Fullkrug will have to compete with Ivory Coast striker Sebastien Haller and young Germany forward Youssoufa Moukoko for a starting place. Haller will be playing for Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations, which takes place from Jan. 13 and Feb. 11.
Germany coach Hansi Flick said that Fullkrug would fit in at Dortmund.
“It goes without question that he could help the team with his personality and quality,” Flick said when he included the player in his squad for upcoming friendlies against Japan and France.
Fullkrug was previously overlooked for the senior team since his last appearance for Germany´s under-20 team in 2014.
But he led Bremen to Bundesliga promotion in 2022 and scored 10 goals in 14 Bundesliga games before Flick finally called him up before the World Cup in Qatar.
Dortmund lost midfielder Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid in the offseason and the club has struggled to replace the England star, who has four goals in three Spanish league games so far. Midfielders Marcel Sabitzer and Felix Nmecha arrived from Bayern and Wolfsburg, respectively.
The latter is injured and will be unable to play against Heidenheim, which has started its first Bundesliga campaign with two losses.
Dortmund coach Edin Terzi´c was eager to keep the focus on the opponent and not comment on Fullkrug´s transfer before it was confirmed.
“Heidenheim is a team that likes to run, they have good physical strength in the team, hit many crosses and dangerous set pieces,” Terzi´c said before referring to the team´s remarkable rise from the fifth division.
“It´s an incredible story, one that´s practically unique in modern soccer,” Terzi´c said. “They´ve come from the Verbandsliga to the Bundesliga. What coach Frank Schmidt has delivered is fantastic.”
