A number of new players were seen donning the famous the green and white again this year. From January signings Julián Malatini, Skelly Alvero and Isak Hansen-Aarøen to the summer additions of Markus Kolke, Derrick Köhn, Keke Topp and Marco Grüll, we take a look at how the new acquisitions have fared in Bremen so far.
SV Werder Bremen used the winter transfer window at the start of 2024 to add some new variability, with the signing of Julián Malatini adding a further defensive option. The 23-year-old Argentinian made a dream start, scoring on his Bundesliga debut against SC Freiburg in January before he made 11 appearances across the second half of the 2023/24 season. In the current campaign, Malatini has featured eight times, demonstrating great passion. His goal to reduce the deficit to 3-1 initiated the spectacular comeback against TSG Hoffenheim on matchday 5.
Another Werder newcomer had also netted in Sinsheim just under six months earlier. Skelly Alvero, who initially joined Werder on loan from Olympique Lyon before being signed permanently in the summer, scored his first goal for Werder on matchday 24 of the previous season. His remarkable chipped effort from close range made it 2-1 in stoppage time. As was the case in the previous season, Alvero has received repeated set-backs due to injury. The Frenchman, who is over two metres tall, has struggled with knee problems of late and therefore has only featured in 14 Bundesliga matches stretching back to last season.
Isak Hansen-Aarøen completed the list of winter signings. The Norway U21 international moved to Bremen from Manchester United in February 2024. He has made three first-team Bundesliga appearances since. This season, Hansen-Aarøen has also made two appearances for the U23s in the German fourth division, scoring the equaliser in the home match against VfB Lübeck. The 20-year-old will be loaned out to Danish top-flight club Aalborg BK for the second half of the current season
SV Werder Bremen strengthened over the summer break, adding four new members to its squad in order to provide fresh impetus for the 2024/25 campaign. Familiar face Keke Topp was one of those as the striker returned to the club of his youth from FC Schalke 04. The Bremen boy hit the ground running, bagging a hattrick away to Energie Cottbus to secure a place in the second round of the DFB-Pokal. After starting against FC Augsburg, Topp then made nothing more than a few brief appearances. On matchday 9, however, the 20-year-old celebrated his first Bundesliga goal in the latter stages against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Due to an ankle injury sustained in training at the end of November, Werder will have to do without their talented young striker until the new year.
The Green-Whites looked set to recruit the services of an Austria international from SK Rapid Vienna even early on in 2024. Marco Grüll made the switch to Werder for the new season, making six starts so far. In the high-scoring away win in Wolfsburg, Grüll finished off a quick counter-attack to give the visitors a 4-1 lead and bag his first Bundesliga goal. Strikes number two and three followed in the match to round off the calendar year against Union Berlin last weekend, during which the attacker provided a clear example of his scoring instinct, netting twice in the space of four minutes.
What a wonderful way to end the year ???? See you all in 2025! ???? #werder
— SV Werder Bremen EN (@en.werder.de) 21 December 2024 at 18:23
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Another SVW newcomer also netted in the Bundesliga for the first this season, doing so just 125 seconds after coming on as a substitute. Derrick Köhn, who joined on loan from Galatasaray on deadline day, did not need long to grab the goal to hand SVW a 2-1 away win in Mainz, unleashing a powerful and ultimately successful attempt on goal. After that, the speedy wide player continued to be handed minutes in short spells before now deputising for the injured Felix Agu on the left flank, starting the last eight matches in all competitions. With a goal and two assists in the last two games, Köhn has been at the forefront of a perfect December for Werder.
Markus Kolke also made the move to Bremen in the summer, bolstering SVW’s goalkeeping options. The former FC Hansa Rostock shot stopper is yet to feature due to his squad role; however, he was in the squad for the home match against SC Freiburg.
