Fritz insists face-to-face meetings behind Werder Bremen's unbeaten Bundesliga start
New recruitment philosophy at the Weser
Werder Bremen sporting director Clemens Fritz has revealed that the club introduced a radical new recruitment policy during the summer transfer window, insisting on meeting every prospective signing in person before completing a deal. The change was designed to reshape the character and mentality of a Bremen squad that narrowly avoided relegation last season.
Speaking to Kicker ahead of Saturday's Bundesliga meeting with SC Paderborn, Fritz explained that Werder's management placed particular emphasis on assessing players' personalities when rebuilding Daniel Thioune's squad.
"We placed a great deal of emphasis on character this year. We wanted to change the mentality within the team."
From video calls to eye contact
The approach represented a clear departure from previous transfer windows, when Bremen occasionally relied on video calls to get to know prospective recruits. This summer, no player was signed without first meeting the club's decision-makers face-to-face.
"You simply get a better feeling when you're sitting opposite someone and looking them in the eye than you do over [Microsoft] Teams, for example."
Fritz acknowledged that the process required additional travel and preparation but insisted the effort had been worthwhile. The players brought in under the policy have all made significant contributions to Werder's strong start to the 2026/27 Bundesliga campaign, with Daniel Thioune's Hanseaten unbeaten in their last five fixtures.
Lessons from a string of transfer failures
Fritz's remarks are telling given Werder's recent difficulties in the transfer market. As examined in Get German Football News' December 2025 winter transfer assessment, Bremen endured a series of disappointing attacking loan arrangements involving players such as André Silva, Rafael Santos Borré and Victor Boniface. Former Liverpool midfielder Naby Keïta also represented an expensive experiment that ultimately failed to deliver the anticipated sporting benefits.
The problems were not limited to player performances. In January, Fritz publicly acknowledged an embarrassing misunderstanding of Bundesliga loan regulations. Werder's management had incorrectly assumed that six existing loan signings prevented the club from bringing in additional players on temporary agreements. An external intervention from Transfermarkt alerted Fritz and sporting director Peter Niemeyer to the mistake. Fritz subsequently contacted the DFL and accepted personal responsibility for the misunderstanding.
That episode highlighted some of the organisational difficulties facing a club whose sporting management was already under considerable pressure. Following a disappointing 2025/26 campaign, Bremen entered the summer seeking to improve both their squad and their internal decision-making processes.
A leaner, more decisive rebuild
Get German Football News' comprehensive 2026/27 Werder Bremen tactical preview identified a noticeably more decisive approach to squad construction, with new squad planner Markus Pilawa potentially playing an important role in the club's changed recruitment philosophy. The extensive rebuild involved selling several prominent players, including Mio Backhaus, Romano Schmid and Karim Coulibaly, while strengthening the squad through economical acquisitions, free transfers and loan agreements. Fritz's latest comments offer another explanation for the different atmosphere surrounding Werder's recruitment operations.
Füllkrug sets the standard
Returning striker Niclas Füllkrug has emerged as a particularly influential figure in Bremen's changing dressing-room culture. The 33-year-old has scored in four consecutive Bundesliga matches, but Fritz was especially eager to highlight his leadership and dedication away from competitive fixtures.
"That mindset of wanting more, taking that extra step, not just on the pitch but also in training: the way he demonstrates that and demands it from his teammates is a prime example. That does us good."
The striker's performances have also prompted Bremen to consider retaining him beyond his current loan from West Ham United, although Fritz emphasised that discussions about next summer remain premature. Prior reporting from 14 October 2026 noted that Werder are eager to keep Füllkrug permanently when his West Ham loan expires in summer 2027, but that negotiations have not started and his salary would depend on West Ham's league status.