Manager speaks out – Nick Woltemade had secret motivation for Newcastle United transfer
Julian Nagelsmann reveals advice to Nick Woltemade amid Newcastle switch
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has admitted that he personally advised Nick Woltemade to prioritise regular first-team football when weighing up his future – with the 2026 World Cup firmly in mind.
The 22-year-old striker, once considered one of the brightest young attacking prospects in German football, had been strongly linked with a blockbuster move to Bayern Munich earlier in the summer. The Bavarian giants, well known for sweeping up the Bundesliga’s top emerging talents, were widely expected to secure his signature. However, negotiations failed to progress and, in the end, it was Newcastle United who swooped in to land the highly rated forward.
For Eddie Howe’s side, the deal could hardly have been more timely. The Magpies were left scrambling for attacking reinforcements following Alexander Isak’s record-breaking departure to Liverpool. Woltemade arrived at St. James’ Park to provide fresh firepower, quickly followed by Brentford’s Yoane Wissa as Newcastle rebuilt their forward line.
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Nagelsmann on Woltemade’s career-defining choice
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Germany’s September double-header against Slovakia and Northern Ireland, Nagelsmann opened up on the conversations he had with Woltemade during the transfer saga.
The 37-year-old, who was dismissed by Bayern in 2023 before taking charge of the national team, explained that his advice was rooted in one simple principle: play regularly or risk stagnation.
> “I think it was unfortunate for all parties that everything with Bayern was played out so publicly,” Nagelsmann admitted. “Of course, I spoke to Nick. I never tell players exactly where to go – that’s not my role – but I reminded him that the most important thing is playing time. Players who feature every week develop, improve, and are ready for international tournaments.”
Nagelsmann also voiced concern about a growing pattern of young German stars making glamour moves only to find themselves warming the bench.
> “I wasn’t entirely happy with some of the transfers we saw this summer,” he continued. “You have players going from 100 per cent playing time at their old clubs to 15 per cent at their new ones. For me as national coach, that’s a real problem. With Nick, I told him that Bayern was an option if he wanted it, but he needed to be aware that if he only played a quarter of the minutes, it would be difficult for him to secure a place in the World Cup squad.”
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Toni Kroos gives his verdict
Germany legend Toni Kroos also shared his perspective on Woltemade’s decision. The Real Madrid midfielder, who has become something of a Newcastle admirer after their spirited but narrow defeat to Liverpool in August, revealed his surprise on his podcast at the player’s choice of destination.
> “On the surface, it’s surprising that he turned down Bayern,” Kroos said. “But if you look more closely, maybe it isn’t. Everyone knew the Isak situation was dragging on and that Newcastle would need to act once he left. What surprises me is not that they wanted him, but that he actually went there – because until recently, everything we read suggested he was nailed on for Bayern.”
Kroos noted, however, that the move could prove to be the right one for Woltemade if he thrives in the Premier League and becomes a regular starter.
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Woltemade on life at Newcastle
For his part, Woltemade spoke with real enthusiasm when officially unveiled by Newcastle United. The striker, who has already made waves in Germany’s youth ranks, described joining the Magpies as a “dream move.”
> “I’m really happy to be at this amazing club,” he told NUFC’s official website. “From the very first contact, I felt the club wanted me, believed in me, and had a clear plan for my development. I know St. James’ Park from watching on TV and it always looked incredible – the atmosphere is something special. I can’t wait to play here in front of the fans and hopefully score a lot of goals for the team.”
For Newcastle supporters, the arrival of Woltemade represents both the start of a new era in attack and a statement that the club can still attract top European talent despite losing one of their biggest stars. For Germany, it may yet prove the perfect move to keep one of their brightest prospects sharp, hungry, and ready for the World Cup stage.