Suspended since April
©IMAGO
The Naby Keïta chapter at Werder Bremen has closed for the time being. The Green-Whites confirmed the 29-year-old midfielder’s departure on loan to Hungarian record champions Ferencvárosi TC. The Guinea international will be loaned to the Europa League participant until the end of 2025. The Budapest residents confirmed that there was an option to stay long-term.
“We are happy that we found this solution together with Naby and his advisor,” explained manager Clemens Fritz. “It was clear to us that Naby would no longer play for Werder. Therefore, this loan is the right step for him and for us. We wish Naby much success in Hungary.”
In the summer of 2023, Keïta moved to Werder Bremen on a free transfer after his contract with Liverpool expired after five years. Right at the start of his time on the Weser, injuries set him back, meaning he was only on the pitch for 107 minutes in five appearances. His suspension followed in April 2024; Keïta found out before the away game at Bayer Leverkusen that he would not be in the starting lineup and refused to take the bus ride. Since then, the tablecloth between those responsible and Keïta has finally been cut. Some teammates also expressed their displeasure with the behavior.
Fritz and Peter Niemeyer repeatedly emphasized that they would work on a solution for both sides. “The fact is that we have clearly made the decision that he will not return to first team training. This was not a consensus between the two parties. “That was a statement we made,” Niemeyer told “Bild” at the beginning of November after Keïta expressed hope for a comeback on the Weser. His market value has gone steeply downhill since he moved to Bremen: he was valued at 12 million euros in July 2023, and according to the last update in October, he is only worth one million euros. He reached his career high of 65 million euros in April 2018.
On deadline day, Keïta’s move to Turkey to Hatayspor fell through shortly before completion. The 65-time national player most recently trained with Werder’s U23 team. At Ferencvárosi TC he can take part in the fight for the Hungarian championship. The club is currently in second place, one point behind league leaders Puskás AFC, who have played one game more. Keïta could also return to the European stage, as the Hungarians are taking part in the Europa League.