Club-record signing
Nick Woltemade set for Newcastle exit – Where it went wrong and Germany star’s next club
©TM/IMAGO
Nick Woltemade is reportedly poised to leave Newcastle United in the summer transfer window, less than 12 months after his club-record switch from VFB Stuttgart. The 24-year-old is currently part of the Germany squad for the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. But when his participation in the tournament concludes, the towering forward is likely to depart St James’ Park after a frustrating debut campaign in the Premier League.
Woltemade's move made the headlines for all of the right reasons. His €75 million move smashed the club's transfer record, previously set when they signed Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad in 2022. He also joined the top 10 of players with the biggest market value rises in a single Premier League update on Transfermarkt, going from €30m to €65m.
Player Comparison
Nick Woltemade
Alexander Isak
Newcastle United
Liverpool FC
€55.00m
Market Value
€85.00m
24
Age
26
Centre-Forward
Position
Centre-Forward
30/06/2031
Contract until
30/06/2031
Full Player Comparison
His first 10 games offered an exciting preview of what was to come for Magpies fans, even outscoring his predecessor Isak when measured by the same dataset by notching five goals in his first 11 games. Woltemade's technical craft on the ball quickly made him a fans' favourite, with comparisons to Premier League icon Dimitar Berbatov. But things quickly fell apart for the Bremen-born star.
Woltemade and Newcastle: Where it went wrong
He finished the season with 11 goals in 51 appearances in all competitions, with eight of those coming in 33 Premier League games. However, only one of those league goals came in 2026 – Woltemade scored in a 3-1 win over West Ham on May 17 to end a five-month drought since his double in a 2-2 draw against Chelsea. For the second half of the season, head coach Eddie Howe decided to deploy Woltemade as a midfielder use William Osula as their first-choice frontman. In response to criticism about his lack of goals and market value dropping to €55m, Woltemade hit out at his critics.
Speaking to Bild, Woltemade said: "It bothers me. If someone claims that I’m in a slump, I’d argue that this person doesn’t watch many Newcastle games. I know people associate me with goals, but you can’t compare a striker’s tally with that of a midfielder playing 50, 60, 70 metres from the opponent’s goal. I’m currently a completely different Nick Woltemade than I was at the start of the season. Right now, I should be judged by how I handle duels or secure space."
Howe responded to those comments by saying: "I think it is a great thing for everybody. For us, if you have versatile players, it gives you a lot more choice and options on how you play – especially when you have injuries in your squad. It is almost imperative we have that. From the players' perspective, I think it is great for their learning. It is potentially great for their careers."
Perhaps the physical nature of the Premier League took its toll on the German. He only failed to play more than 60 minutes in a match in one of their first 19 league matches, but that number rose to 12 in the second half of the campaign. Whether it was fitness or a lack of faith from Howe, Woltemade's minutes diminished and left him frustrated on the bench. Julian Nagelsmann’s belief ensured he remained a part of Die Mannschaft's plans this summer, but his club situation looks very different. As the graphic below shows, his numbers have declined since leaving Stuttgart despite a substantial increase in minutes.
Two teams named in Woltemade chase
According to Spanish outlet AS, Atletico Madrid are one of four teams in the hunt to sign Woltemade as well as Borussia Dortmund. However, any deal will be difficult to negotiate unless Newcastle show a willingness to part ways with the striker, as he is under contract until 2031. Their reported asking price of €65m would represent a substantial loss after just one season, but it may allow the club to reinvest and sign a new striker to replace him.
It remains to be seen whether Dortmund would prefer a permanent deal or straight loan, offering Woltemade a chance to return to his homeland and kickstart his career again. Atletico's interest could be predicated on Julian Alvarez's future amid links with Barcelona and Real Madrid. Either way, it seems like his stint in the North East is heading for a disappointing ending.
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