Julen Lopetegui's Hammers have just made a (quite literally) big addition to their attacking ranks
(Image credit: Alamy)
West Ham have completed their latest signing of the summer, bringing in striker Niclas Fullkrug for £27m from Borussia Dortmund.
The Hammers had already made four additions to their squad this transfer window. Wingers Crysencio Summerville and Luis Guilherme have joined from Leeds and Palmeiras respectively, with centre-back Max Kilman arriving from Wolves and goalkeeper Wes Foderingham coming in as a free agent after leaving Sheffield United.
Fullkrug becomes new boss Julen Lopetegui's fifth acquisition since taking over at the London Stadium last month. FourFourTwo has the lowdown on the gigantic German...
Julen Lopetegui has succeeded David Moyes in the West Ham dugout (Image credit: Alamy)
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Who is Niclas Fullkrug?
Having spent much of his career in the German lower leagues, Fullkrug caught the eye with 35 goals in 65 games for Werder Bremen across the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons. The six-foot-two centre-forward began the following campaign with Bremen, scoring once more before joining Dortmund on a three-year deal.
A late bloomer, Fullkrug became Germany's second-oldest outfield debutant when he earned his first cap at the age of 29 years and 280 days ahead of the 2022 World Cup. He went to that tournament and scored twice, only for his country to crash out at the group stage.
Fullkrug has scored 13 goals in 21 caps for Germany (Image credit: Alamy)
Physically imposing and a powerful finisher, Fullkrug scored found the net 15 times in all competitions during his sole season at Dortmund. He featured in Germany's Euro 2024 squad and scored twice – registering in group matches against Scotland and Switzerland – as the hosts reached the quarter-finals.
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Speaking to West Ham's official website upon his arrival in East London, the former Hanover 96 and Nurnberg man said: "I'm delighted to be here, and I can't wait to get out on the pitch with my new teammates. 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."
Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for the Premier League and Opta Analyst, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open...
