Werder Bremen shuts the door on Naby Keita for good

Despite a brief resurgence in Hungary, Naby Keita is not expected to return to Werder Bremen. Even the arrival of new head coach Horst Steffen hasn't been enough to reopen a file that the German club now considers closed.

On loan at Ferencváros Budapest until December, the former Liverpool midfielder is finally stringing together minutes on the pitch. At 30, he's regaining some rhythm, confidence, and, most importantly, the joy of playing.

And yet, even with a return to the European stage through Champions League qualifiers, he won't be heading back to the banks of the Weser. At least, that's the clear stance of Peter Niemeyer, head of professional football at Werder, when asked by DeichStube:

The club's position is unchanged, no matter who the coach is.

A chapter closed for good

Signed as a free agent in 2023, Keita sparked plenty of hope. But between recurring injuries and limited performances, things never really took off. Over a full year, he made just five official appearances—totalling a meagre 107 minutes.

The breaking point? April 2024. The Guinea international refused to board the team bus for a trip to Leverkusen after learning he wouldn't be in the starting eleven. The club's management saw this as an act of betrayal, resulting in his suspension and permanent exclusion from the squad.

Far from the Bundesliga spotlight, Keita is getting valuable game time at Ferencváros Budapest, but that hasn't changed his contractual situation with Werder. Now, it's up to him to prove elsewhere—perhaps in Hungary—that he can still become the player he once promised to be.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr