Werder Bremen Signs Midfielder Ludovit Reis from Club Brugge
Werder Bremen has officially announced the signing of Ludovit Reis, a former Hamburg midfielder, from Club Brugge. The 26-year-old Dutchman returns to German football after spending just one season in Belgium. The deal is notable for its financial structure, as Bremen will not pay any guaranteed transfer fee. Instead, Club Brugge will receive performance-related bonuses as well as a percentage of any future sale, just a year after they acquired Reis for approximately €6 million from Hamburg.
This transfer brings a sense of northern German rivalry to the forefront. Reis spent four seasons with Hamburger SV, playing a vital role in helping the club gain promotion to the Bundesliga in 2025. He now joins Bremen, a traditional rival of his former team.
Reis Returns Following a Challenging Year in Belgium
Reis’s prior move to Brugge marked the end of an essential chapter with Hamburg. Reports indicated that Club Brugge was keen on signing him after the club rebuffed an initial €4.5 million offer. Ultimately, they reached a deal around the €6 million mark. However, his time in Belgium did not unfold as hoped. A shoulder injury hindered his progress, and he fell out of favor, resulting in just 12 competitive appearances—six of which were starts. His market value dropped from €7 million to around €3 million.
Having trained away from Brugge’s first team and not playing competitively since January 16th, Reis arrives at Bremen in need of match fitness, though his skills and experience in the German league are well-acknowledged. He has not yet made a top-flight appearance in Germany but has an extensive history with HSV, contributing 20 goals in 129 appearances during their Bundesliga years. His best season came in 2022/2023 when he scored nine goals and assisted five others across 33 league matches.
Though his influence diminished in later seasons, Reis remained a significant player as HSV ended their long-term absence from the Bundesliga. His departure prompted the club to seek out his successor, with Nicolas Capaldo specifically identified before his transfer to Hamburg.
Statements on Ludovit Reis’ Transfer
For Werder Bremen, Reis fills a crucial gap in central midfield following the departure of Romano Schmid to Frosinone. Head coach Daniel Thioune believes Reis can play both as a No. 6 and No. 8, offering greater tactical flexibility.
“We are pleased that we reached an agreement with Ludovit,” said Peter Niemeyer, head of professional football at Bremen. “Our discussions were productive, and he fits perfectly into our midfield strategy.”
Thioune added, “He is very physically strong, wins many balls, and brings a goal threat. He is a technically proficient midfielder well suited for the No. 6 or No. 8 roles, and his quality will benefit us immensely.”
Reis expressed his enthusiasm for the move, stating, “Werder is a family club, and I appreciate that kind of atmosphere. After our conversations, I felt very positive and I’m looking forward to this new challenge.”
After four years with HSV and a tough season in Belgium, Reis is ready to don the colors of Bremen, setting the stage for an intriguing matchup in the Bundesliga, especially with the upcoming Nordderby against Hamburg.
Werder Bremen have officially completed the signing of former Hamburg midfielder Ludovit Reis from Club Brugge, bringing the 26-year-old Dutchman back to German football after only one season in Belgium. The financial structure represents particularly attractive business for Bremen. DeichStube reports that Werder will pay no guaranteed transfer fee.
Instead, Club Brugge will receive performance-related bonuses and a percentage of any future sale. That comes only one year after the Belgian club paid approximately €6m to sign Reis from Hamburg.
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The move also carries an obvious element of northern German intrigue. Reis spent four seasons with Hamburger SV, ultimately helping the club secure promotion to the Bundesliga in 2025. The former HSV vice-captain now returns to Germany with Hamburg’s traditional northern rivals.
Reis returns after difficult year in Belgium
Reis’s move to Brugge brought an end to an important chapter of his career in Hamburg. Get German Football News reported shortly before his departure that Club Brugge were closing in on the midfielder after HSV rejected an initial €4.5m offer. An eventual agreement in the region of €6m was reached.
His Belgian adventure did not go according to plan. A shoulder injury interrupted Reis’s campaign, and he subsequently fell out of favour entirely. Transfermarkt credits him with just 12 competitive appearances, comprising six starts and six substitute outings. His market value consequently fell from €7m to approximately €3m.
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Reis had most recently been training away from the Brugge first team and has not played competitively since January 16th. Werder are therefore acquiring a player lacking match rhythm, but one whose qualities and experience in German football are already well established. Reis has still yet to make a German top flight appearance.
The midfielder made 129 appearances for HSV during their 2. Bundesliga years and scored 20 goals. His strongest individual campaign came in 2022/23, when he registered nine goals and five assists across 33 league appearances.
Although his influence diminished somewhat during his final two seasons in Hamburg, Reis remained an important member of the squad that finally ended the club’s long Bundesliga absence. HSV subsequently moved quickly to replace him. Nicolas Capaldo was specifically identified as Reis’s successor before the Argentine completed his own move to the Volksparkstadion.
Statements on Ludovit Reis’ transfer
For Bremen, Reis addresses an obvious vacancy in central midfield following Romano Schmid’s summer departure for Frosinone. Head coach Daniel Thioune believes the former Netherlands youth international can operate both as a No. 6 and No. 8, giving Werder greater flexibility in the centre of the pitch.
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“We are happy that we were able to reach an agreement with Ludo,” Werder head of professional football Peter Niemeyer said in the club’s announcement. “We had very good talks with him. The way he plays football fits our desired role profile very well and he will expand our options in midfield.”
“He is very strong physically in terms of running, wins a lot of balls and carries a certain goal threat,” head coach Thioune added. “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 the people who know me know that I love that kind of atmosphere at a club,” Reis said. “I had a good feeling after the talks with those responsible and I’m really looking forward to the new challenge at Werder.”
After four years with HSV and one difficult season in Belgium, Reis will now make his Bundesliga debut wearing the colors of Hamburg’s fiercest northern rivals. The Bundesliga’s famed Nordderby becomes still more interesting.
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