First Team

Return to Wolfsburg

Max Kruse joins from Union Berlin.

Max Kruse has returned to VfL Wolfsburg, five and a half years after leaving the Green-and-Whites for Werder Bremen. The 33-year-old striker joins from Union Berlin and will sign a contract until 30 June 2023, subject to a medical on Monday. “I made the decision to return to VfL Wolfsburg because our story is not over yet,” said Kruse. “I know what’s in store for me and I accept the challenge. I’m looking forward to joining the team and will give everything to help them.”

“We’re pleased to be able to face the upcoming challenges with Max Kruse,” added VfL sporting director Marcel Schäfer. “He’s a player who can be used flexibly in attack and has proven his footballing qualities at every club he’s played for so far. We’re therefore convinced he’ll be able to help us straight away.”

2015/16: Six goals in 32 league appearances for VfL

Kruse registered six goals and eight assists in 32 Bundesliga appearances for Wolfsburg after joining the club from Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2015/16. He then spent three years in Bremen, where he worked under current VfL boss Florian Kohfeldt between 2017 and 2019. The former Germany international recorded 32 goals and 26 assists for Werder in the Bundesliga before signing for Fenerbahce in 2019/20, for whom he netted seven goals in 20 league appearances. He returned to the Bundesliga with Union in summer 2020, registering 16 goals and ten assists in 38 league outings.

Kruse, who has also had spells with SC Freiburg and FC St. Pauli in Germany’s top flight, has played 288 Bundesliga games to date, scoring 90 goals and assisting 78. He also scored four goals in 14 matches for the German national team between 2013 and 2015.