Werder Bremen Secures Signing of Ex-Hamburg Midfielder Ludovit Reis

Werder Bremen has officially completed the acquisition of former Hamburg midfielder Ludovit Reis from Club Brugge. This move brings the 26-year-old Dutch player back to German football after a single season in Belgium. The financial arrangement is particularly advantageous for Bremen, as reports indicate that Werder will pay no guaranteed transfer fee. Instead, Club Brugge is set to receive performance-related bonuses and a percentage of any future sale, a year after reportedly paying around €6 million to sign Reis from Hamburg.

This transfer carries significant intrigue within Northern German football. Reis previously spent four seasons with Hamburger SV, contributing to their promotion to the Bundesliga in 2025. The former HSV vice-captain now returns to Germany to play for Hamburg's traditional arch-rivals.

Reis's Return After a Challenging Year in Belgium

Reis's transfer to Brugge marked the end of a significant period in his career at Hamburg. Reports prior to his departure indicated that Club Brugge was nearing an agreement for the midfielder after HSV rejected an initial €4.5 million offer. A deal worth approximately €6 million was eventually finalized.

However, his tenure in Belgium did not unfold as planned. A shoulder injury disrupted Reis's season, leading to him falling out of favor with the team. He has made only 12 competitive appearances, with six starts and six substitute outings, according to Transfermarkt. Consequently, his market value has decreased from €7 million to approximately €3 million.

Reis had most recently been training separately from the Club Brugge first team and has not played competitively since January 16th. Werder is thus acquiring a player who may lack match fitness but possesses established qualities and experience in German football. Notably, Reis has yet to make an appearance in Germany's top flight.

During his time with HSV in the 2. Bundesliga, Reis made 129 appearances and scored 20 goals. His most impactful individual season was 2022/23, where he recorded nine goals and five assists in 33 league matches.

While his influence waned in his final two seasons at Hamburg, Reis remained a crucial member of the squad that finally ended the club's long absence from the Bundesliga. HSV swiftly moved to replace him, with Nicolas Capaldo being identified as Reis's successor before completing his own transfer to the Volksparkstadion.

Statements Regarding Ludovit Reis's Transfer

For Bremen, Reis's arrival addresses a clear need in central midfield following the departure of Romano Schmid to Frosinone. Head coach Daniel Thioune believes the former Netherlands youth international can operate effectively as both a defensive midfielder (No. 6) and a box-to-box midfielder (No. 8), offering Werder greater tactical flexibility in the center of the park.

"We are happy that we were able to reach an agreement with Ludo," stated Werder's head of professional football, Peter Niemeyer, in the club's official announcement. "We had very good discussions with him. The way he plays football aligns perfectly with our desired role profile and he will expand our options in midfield."

"He is physically very strong in terms of running, wins a lot of balls, and possesses a certain goal threat," added head coach Thioune. "He is a technically well-trained midfielder whose strengths lie in the No. 6 or No. 8 positions and who will help us with his quality."

"Werder is a family club, and those who know me know that I love that kind of atmosphere at a club," Reis commented. "I had a good feeling after the talks with the responsible parties, and I am truly looking forward to the new challenge at Werder."

After four years with HSV and one challenging season in Belgium, Reis is now set to make his Bundesliga debut wearing the colors of Hamburg's fiercest northern rivals, adding further spice to the Bundesliga's renowned Nordderby.