West Ham United has officially signed Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund for a reported fee of £27.5 million, the club announced on Monday.
Fullkrug, who scored 16 goals during his lone season at Dortmund, played a key role in helping the German giants reach the Champions League final last season. Despite starting all five matches on the bench, the 31-year-old also managed to score twice as Germany advanced to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, hosted on home soil.
Described as a powerful centre-forward, Fullkrug is highly regarded in Germany, with many supporters advocating for him to start ahead of Arsenal's Kai Havertz in the Euros. In a statement, Fullkrug expressed his excitement about joining West Ham, saying, "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."
West Ham has been active in the transfer market despite a relatively quiet window, adding wingers Crysencio Summerville and Luis Guilherme, as well as defender Max Kilman, to the squad for Julen Lopetegui's inaugural season in charge.
Tim Steidten, West Ham's technical director and former colleague of Fullkrug at Werder Bremen, shared his enthusiasm about 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."
