Bologna Finalizes Loan Move for Werder Bremen’s Samuel Mbangula
Werder Bremen forward Samuel Mbangula is on the verge of rejoining Serie A, as Bologna moves to secure a deal for the Belgian winger after overtaking Atalanta in the bid for his services. As reported by Sky Italia, Bologna is working to finalize a season-long loan agreement that includes a purchase option for the 22-year-old. Kicker confirms Mbangula’s upcoming departure, although a permanent transfer remains a possibility.
This development comes just 13 months after Bremen invested €10m to bring Mbangula from Juventus. At that time, this transfer made him the second-most expensive signing in Werder’s history and demonstrated significant trust in his potential as a key player for the team. However, that potential was only intermittently realized.
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Mbangula’s Time at Bremen Falls Short of Expectations
Initially, Mbangula exhibited promise after joining from Juventus. By early October, he had contributed to five goals during his first six Bundesliga matches. Following a goal against St. Pauli, he expressed that he was still adjusting to German football but assured fans they would see him at his best eventually.
Unfortunately, the anticipated breakthrough never fully occurred.
Mbangula concluded his debut Bundesliga season with just three goals and four assists over 29 appearances, starting in only 12. Various factors such as injuries, role changes, and Bremen’s overall attacking struggles complicated his assimilation into the team. Daniel Thioune, Bremen’s coach, made attempts to restore the former Juventus player to a more familiar attacking position over the summer, with Get German Football News reviewing this reset in their tactical preview for the upcoming season.
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That initiative now seems destined to end prematurely.
Mbangula was taken off at half-time during Bremen’s DFB-Pokal opener and did not feature in a recent 4-1 Bundesliga defeat to Freiburg. Following this, Bremen allowed him to skip training on Monday to engage in transfer discussions.
Bologna Outmaneuvers Atalanta
Atalanta was initially seen as the likely choice for Mbangula. Negotiations had been underway for a loan with the Bergamo club as Bremen hesitated to write off a significant investment on a player they acquired for €10m just a year ago.
However, Bologna disrupted those plans.
This shift appears to correlate with another transfer movement in Serie A, where Atalanta is pursuing Bologna attacker Jonathan Rowe. Consequently, Bologna seeks an attacking reinforcement and moved swiftly to target Mbangula.
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A loan with an option to purchase is shaping up as a reasonable solution for Bremen. This arrangement allows Mbangula the fresh start he reportedly seeks while avoiding an immediate loss on their substantial investment.
Bologna head coach Domenico Tedesco is familiar with Mbangula from his time with the Belgian national team, where he gave Mbangula his first senior call-up in November 2024. Nevertheless, the young forward is still waiting for his debut at the senior international level.
Thioune Acknowledges Mbangula’s Wish for Change
Thioune has publicly recognized that Mbangula’s first season in Bremen did not yield consistent performances.
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“The player spent twelve months trying to integrate and showcase his potential,” the Bremen coach noted. “This only manifested in certain instances. If the player desires a change, then that must be respected.”
Mbangula’s potential exit also aligns with Bremen’s broader strategies leading up to the transfer deadline.
Get German Football News reported earlier that Mbangula’s departure could facilitate additional financial flexibility for Werder’s late transfer maneuvers. Following Jens Stage’s serious injury, which forced rapid adjustments, Bremen aims to strengthen multiple positions.
A return to Italy now seems increasingly probable, potentially marking the end of Mbangula’s challenging spell at Bremen.
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What started as one of Werder’s most ambitious signings could conclude after just over a season, with Bologna offering Mbangula a valuable opportunity to rejuvenate his career in the country where it began to take off.
Werder Bremen attacker Samuel Mbangula is reportedly closing in on a return to Serie A, with Bologna now finalizing a deal for the Belgian winger after overtaking Atalanta in the race for his signature. According to Sky Italia, Bologna are working to complete a season-long loan containing a purchase option for the 22-year-old. Kicker confirms Mbangula’s imminent departure, yet leaves open the possibility of a permanent sale.
The prospective departure comes only 13 months after Bremen paid €10m to purchase Mbangula from Juventus. The deal made the Belgian the second-most expensive signing in Werder history at the time and reflected enormous faith in his ability to become a central component of the club’s attack. That promise was only sporadically fulfilled.
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Mbangula experiment never consistently took off
Mbangula initially showed encouraging signs after arriving from Turin. By early October, the winger had accumulated five goal contributions through his first six Bundesliga matchdays. After scoring against St. Pauli, Mbangula acknowledged that he was still adjusting to German football but promised that supporters would eventually see him at his best.
The anticipated breakthrough never fully materialized.
Mbangula finished his first Bundesliga campaign with three goals and four assists in 29 appearances, starting only 12 times. Injuries, positional experimentation and Bremen’s wider attacking problems all complicated his first season. Daniel Thioune attempted to restore the former Juventus youngster to a more natural attacking role during the summer, with Get German Football News examining the attempted Mbangula reset in our 2026/27 Werder Bremen tactical preview.
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That rehabilitation attempt now appears likely to end prematurely.
Mbangula was substituted at half-time during Bremen’s DFB-Pokal opener and remained unused in Sunday’s 4-1 Bundesliga defeat at Freiburg. Werder subsequently excused him from Monday training in order to conduct transfer talks.
Bologna overtake Atalanta
Atalanta initially appeared the likeliest destination. Werder were reportedly discussing a loan with the Bergamo club because Bremen remained reluctant to completely write off a player on whom they had invested €10m only one year earlier.
Bologna then intervened.
The change appears connected to another Serie A transfer domino, with Atalanta moving for Bologna attacker Jonathan Rowe. Bologna consequently entered the market for another attacking option and moved quickly for Mbangula.
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A loan with a purchase option now appears to provide a compromise for Bremen. The structure gives Mbangula the fresh start he reportedly desires without forcing Werder to immediately crystallize a substantial loss on one of the largest investments in club history.
Bologna head coach Domenico Tedesco also knows the winger from his spell in charge of Belgium. Tedesco handed Mbangula his first senior national-team call-up in November 2024, although the attacker is still awaiting his senior international debut.
Thioune accepts Mbangula’s desire for a change
Thioune has now openly acknowledged that Mbangula’s first year in Bremen failed to deliver consistent results.
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“The player spent twelve months trying to integrate and bring his potential onto the pitch,” the Bremen coach explained. “That only worked in certain situations. If it is therefore the player’s wish to make a change, then you have to accept that.”
Mbangula’s potential exit also feeds directly into Bremen’s wider deadline plans.
Get German Football News reported earlier on Monday that Mbangula was one of several possible departures capable of creating additional financial room for Werder’s frantic late transfer work. Bremen are attempting to reinforce several positions after Jens Stage’s serious injury forced the club to revise its plans at short notice.
A return to Italy now appears increasingly likely to bring Mbangula’s difficult Bremen spell to at least a temporary conclusion.
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What began as one of the most ambitious purchases in Werder history could therefore end after little more than one Bundesliga season, with Bologna offering the Belgian attacker an opportunity to restart his career in the country where it first began to gather momentum.
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