Werder Bremen Secures Signing of Ludovit Reis, Former Hamburg Star

Werder Bremen has officially announced the acquisition of former Hamburg midfielder Ludovit Reis from Club Brugge. The 26-year-old Dutch player makes a return to German football after a single season in Belgium, with the financial terms proving highly advantageous for Bremen. Reports indicate that Werder will not pay a guaranteed transfer fee.

Instead, Club Brugge is set to receive performance-related bonuses and a percentage of any future transfer fee. This agreement comes just a year after the Belgian club reportedly paid around €6 million to sign Reis from Hamburg.

The transfer also injects an element of intrigue into the northern German football rivalry. Reis spent four seasons with Hamburger SV, contributing to their promotion to the Bundesliga in 2025. The former HSV vice-captain now joins Hamburg's traditional rivals in the north.

Reis's Return After a Challenging Year in Belgium

Reis's move to Brugge marked the end of a significant period of his career at Hamburg. Prior to his departure, reports suggested that Club Brugge was close to signing the midfielder after HSV rejected an initial offer of €4.5 million. An agreement was eventually reached for approximately €6 million.

His time in Belgium did not unfold as planned. A shoulder injury disrupted Reis's campaign, and he subsequently fell out of favor with the team. His market value has consequently decreased from €7 million to approximately €3 million.

Reis had most recently been training separately from the Brugge first team and had not played competitively since January 16th. Werder is thus acquiring a player who may lack match fitness but possesses established qualities and experience in German football. Reis is yet to make his debut in the German top flight.

During his time with HSV, Reis made 129 appearances in the 2. Bundesliga, scoring 20 goals. His most impactful season was in 2022/23, where he contributed nine goals and five assists in 33 league matches.

Although his influence waned slightly in his final two seasons with Hamburg, Reis remained a crucial player in the squad that ended the club's long absence from the Bundesliga. HSV moved swiftly to replace him, identifying Nicolas Capaldo as Reis's successor before the Argentine completed his move to Volksparkstadion.

Statements Regarding Ludovit Reis's Transfer

For Bremen, Reis fills a clear void in central midfield following Romano Schmid's departure to Frosinone. Head coach Daniel Thioune believes the former Netherlands youth international can operate effectively as both a defensive (No. 6) and box-to-box (No. 8) midfielder, offering Werder greater tactical flexibility.

"We are delighted that we were able to reach an agreement with Ludo," stated Werder's head of professional football, Peter Niemeyer, in the club's announcement. "We had very productive discussions with him. His style of play aligns perfectly with our desired role profile, and he will expand our midfield options."

"He is physically robust with excellent running ability, wins a lot of duels, and possesses a certain goal threat," added head coach Thioune. "He is a technically proficient midfielder whose strengths lie in the No. 6 or No. 8 positions and who will enhance our team with his quality."

"Werder is a family club, and those who know me are aware that I thrive in that kind of atmosphere," said Reis. "I had a positive feeling after speaking with the management, and I am genuinely looking forward to this new challenge at Werder."

After four years with HSV and one difficult season in Belgium, Reis is now set to make his Bundesliga debut while representing Hamburg's fiercest northern rivals, adding another layer of intensity to the famed Nordderby.