“Ilia has made very good progress with us in recent years. He came through the academy here, made the jump to the first-team and became a Bulgaria international too. Now, he has chosen to continue his development at another club. He said to us that he would like to transfer to a new club. We have granted the request with the move to England and wish him all the best for his future career and the new challenge in Leeds,” explained Clemens Fritz, head of professional football at Werder Bremen.

Ilia Gruev came to Werder’s academy from Erfurt when he was 15. From then on, he played in all the youth teams of the Green-Whites. He made 33 appearances for Werder in the Bundesliga and 26 in the second division (one goal), as well as playing three times in the DFB-Pokal.