New entry in the portrait
© Imago
After many years of conservative transfer tactics, Werder Bremen again takes a financial risk with the commitment of Samuel Mbangula. 10 million euros are due for the services of the 21-year-old wing striker of Juventus Turin, a sum that was only paid in the green and white club history. The fact that this happens almost exactly two months after the end of coach Ole Werner, which, among other things, was related to his demand for higher quality newcomers, sounds paradoxical. And yet a look at the profile of the Belgian makes it clear that the youngster also fits Bremen’s path of recent years.
First the financial details of the deal: in addition to the base revenue of 10 million euros, bonuses can add up to EUR 2 million. According to the “Deichstube”, the contract of Mbangula runs until 2030 and is intended to include an annual salary of EUR 1.5 million. The newcomer in the front area of the Bremen squad lines up, top earners such as Marvin Ducksch are more than 2 million euros.
The fact that the clammy Werder has been able to afford such a deal for years after being qualified for international competition 14 years ago and had to go to the 2nd Bundesliga in 2021 is not just a sign of the good work in the past four years. It also reveals the financial injection of the regional investor alliance of around a year and a half ago. At that time, 38 million euros were made available for 18 percent of the shares, some of which should also be used for newcomers, which ideally can be resold profitably.
In the past two transfer phases, this was hardly noticeable, only a small transfer minus of EUR 1.1 million was at the end of the 2024/25 season. A big attack on the transfer market is also not to be expected this summer, the Bremen controllers strive to put the urgently needed income in the foreground. So far, 500,000 euros for the loan of Dawid Kownacki on Hertha BSC on the HABSIDE, sales candidates such as Romano Schmid (25) and Marvin Ducksch (31) will probably still leave the club. And yet Mbangula’s obligation is an announcement because it can be made before the income in its own account has been received.
Who is Samuel Mbangula? Early starter in Belgium, turbulent Juventus year
Mbangula was considered a top talent early in Belgium. Club Bruges discovered it at the age of 10 and brought into the youth teams, even though he comes from near Anderlecht. This was not only piquant because the RSC was the greatest rival in the development of young players at that time, but also because there were about 100 kilometers between the two clubs. “Mbangula, however, spoke French and had difficulty adapting to the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium,” explains Bart Tamsyn, Transfer market area manager Belgium. “It was planned that players of the club should attend a school in Bruges from the U13, but in the case of Mbangula an exception was made and he was driven 200 kilometers every day. Club Brügge did a lot because he saw a great talent in him, but since he had so much difficulties outside the field, his parents decided in 2019 to put him at the RSC in 2019, where after a year from Juventus Turin was discovered. “
After four years in the youth, the breakthrough in the professional sector followed after four years in the youth. The 21-year-old contributed four goals and five templates for the old lady, although only a few fans had him on the paper twelve months ago. Jatin Dietl, Transfer market area manager Italy describes him as “one of the big surprises last season. In the previous season, Mbangula was also only a replacement at the reserve in the third division and then missed almost the entire second half of the season because of an injury. In preparation, he was able to convince Thiago Motta-one of the few brave coach in Italy-but convince.”
Mbangula scored a goal directly in the first two league games and scored three more, although its market value was just 250,000 euros at that time. The fact that the lively right foot, which often moves from the left, could not keep these scorer values and its place in the starting eleven is normal for a player of his age and, on the other hand, was due to the high competition and turbulent season at Juventus.
At the start of the season, Mbangula benefited from many injury-related failures in the Juventus offensive, which pushed him out of the starting eleven a short time later. Nevertheless, he showed his qualities from the bank again and again, was nominated for the Belgian national team by Domenico Tedesco in November and met for the Bianconeri in the first leg of the Champions League intermediate round against PSV Eindhoven (2: 1). His market value made a jump to 14 million euros in March – before the coaching change to Igor Tudor followed in the same month, who only started it for four minutes.
Samuel Mbangula cheers on the big Champions League stage.
A total of about 1,080 minutes of use are available after the first season at Juventus. For comparison: This corresponds to the time in the Werder squad that Justin Njinmah 2024/25 was on the field. With a lot of experience, Mbangula does not come to Bremen – and accordingly, the fear of some fans is justified that you will take a lot of money in your hand for a relatively blank leaf. TM-user “Claudio24” writes: “I do not know the player. He is described here with ‘a reasonable speed without being very fast’. His facts are okay, but not outstanding. An Asllani with his scorers in the 2nd league, all of which broke up for 6-8 million more imagination for 10 million want.”
Fill jug, Diego & Co.
The most expensive Werder access
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In Bremen Skelly Alvero is considered a negative example of the expensive transfer of a player who has not yet proven his qualities in the long term. The 23 -year -old midfielder cost Werder 4.75 million euros plus bonuses last year, although in France at Olympique Lyon he was only allowed to ran and disappointed a little more than 400 minutes in Ligue 1. TM-user “Werdiknight” still holds: “Alvero and Mbangula have nothing in common, except that both players are young and in both cases you take a certain or greater financial risk. Very different situation, completely different type of player, completely different qualities and also from a completely different market situation. In today’s world, much more for offensive players – a certain amount of money costs, then please refrain from these comparisons and simply say this in general. ”
This discussion makes one thing above all: Werder dares to do more again on the transfer market. Keke Topp, also came from Schalke 04 last year, Julián Malatini, hired in the winter of 2024 for 2 million euros from Argentina, and already in the summer of 2023 Olivier Deman (€ 4 million from Cercle Brügge) and Senne Lynen (€ 2.5 million from Union SG) were predicted by the new Bremen Weg that money is quite invested – Even if not everyone of these access has to ignite.
Suitable for this, sports director Peter Niemeyer says in the course of the official idea: “We always said that we are also ready to invest if we are convinced of a player and his potential. This is absolutely the case with Samuel.” And the assessment of Italy expert Dietl can give the Werder fans hope for a good investment: “I think the paid price is absolutely okay, probably even relatively cheap. But on the other hand, I don’t think he will take a development such as Dean Hujisen.”