Niclas Fullkrug says he cannot explain why he never found form for West Ham after sealing a move away from the club in the summer. The German striker moved to east London in 2024 but never quite hit the heights expected of him given his £27m price tag.
Fitness problems and a frustrating spell
He tallied just three goals and two assists in 29 appearances before joining AC Milan on loan in the second half of last season. Then, in the summer, he returned to Germany with a loan move to his boyhood club Werder Bremen.
Speaking in an interview with Bild, he has now lifted the lid on his dismal spell with the Hammers, saying he was held back by repeated fitness problems.
“You only have to look at my medical record. I’ve had to suffer a lot, but almost never because of muscle injuries,” Fullkrug explained.
Uncertainty over the root cause
His spell at the London Stadium saw him repeatedly struck down with muscle problems. He continued, saying that beyond that, he is unsure why he struggled so much: “I can’t really explain why things went so badly for me at West Ham. England probably isn’t made for me as a type of player or as an athlete either.”
“Now I just hope that everything stays the way it is.”
A return to form in Bremen
Things have been going much better for Fullkrug in Bremen, where he began his career in 2006. The 33-year-old’s latest spell, his third with the club, has seen him hit three goals in four Bundesliga appearances, with a further strike in the DFB Pokal.
