Naby Keita joined Werder Bremen on a free transfer after his contract with Liverpool expired.
Naby Keita, 28, had played two seasons for RB Leipzig before joining Liverpool in 2018. The central midfielder returns to Germany after making 129 competitive appearances for Jürgen Klopp’s team and winning every possible trophy at Anfield, including the English Premier League (2019/20), FA Cup (2021/22), EFL Cup (2021/22), FA Community Shield (2022), UEFA Champions League (2018/19), UEFA Super Cup (2019), and FIFA Club World Cup (2019).
“I’m really looking forward to the next challenge in Bremen,” Keita stated after signing with the club. “The discussions with the bosses, the environment, and Werder’s playing style all convinced me.” The coach gave me a positive feeling and shown that I can contribute to the club. Werder is a unique club, and I am familiar with the Weserstadion from my time in Leipzig. The club and its ideology are a good match for me. It’s the proper decision for me.”
Keita initially joined Leipzig from Red Bull Salzburg, where he had won successive league and cup doubles and been voted Austrian Bundesliga Player of the Year in 2015/16, after Die Roten Bullen’s entrance to the Bundesliga in 2016. On Matchday 2, he came off the bench to score the game-winning goal against Borussia Dortmund, giving Leipzig its first-ever victory in the Bundesliga.
His strong all-around midfield play, which included gaining possession, distribution, and danger in the last third, earned him a spot in the Bundesliga Team of the Season for 2016/17.
Naby Keita returns to Bundesliga after NINE YEARS
Keita now joins a Bremen team that includes 2022/23 Bundesliga joint-top scorer and Team of the Season nominee Niclas Füllkrug, as Die Grünweißen attempt to improve on their 13th-place performance in their first season back in the Bundesliga.
“It goes without saying that when a player like Naby Keita is available for free, there are a lot of people interested.” Clemens Fritz, Bremen’s head of scouting and first-team football, stated, “We’re delighted that Naby chose us despite several offers and that we were able to persuade him about Werder.”
“We obviously know about Naby from his time in the Bundesliga and have continued to follow him in the Premier League,” the former midfielder explained. “An injury set him back at the start of this season, preventing him from getting the playing time he desired.”
“We now aim to get him back to his peak performance.”
