Nick Woltemade has had a turbulent summer. The striker looks back, looks forward to his new challenges at Newcastle United, and hopes for understanding from VfB fans.
Nick Woltemade hasn’t had much time to spend in his new home yet: On August 30, his transfer to Newcastle United, worth up to 90 million, was made public. The striker was not yet registered for the game against Leeds United (0-0) on the same day, and then he went on international duty with the DFB team—a rather mixed experience for Woltemade personally. Now the Premier League adventure is about to begin for him.
Despite his anticipation for the “awesome challenge” that now awaits him in Newcastle, Woltemade also spoke to dpa about his transfer from VfB Stuttgart to England. “It’s crazy, of course,” he said, referring to the high transfer fee that NUFC paid for him. “We players don’t choose our price. So it doesn’t change much for me personally.” But the 23-year-old also knows: “The public naturally looks at us differently when there’s such a price tag on us players.”
The media presence over the summer wasn’t easy for him, Woltemade said. He explained that he had “put his phone away as far as possible and simply tried not to read too much about himself.” For weeks, Woltemade had been linked primarily with FC Bayern before Newcastle struck shortly before the transfer window closed.
Woltemade hopes for understanding from VfB fans
Woltemade’s transfer also meant that his time at VfB Stuttgart ended after just one season. Woltemade already tried to smooth the waters shortly after his transfer in an Instagram post (“I’ll still be a Stuttgart fan”), and in an interview with dpa, he said he could “absolutely” understand the displeasure over his quick departure. He said it was “very important to him not to lose the support of the fans,” and therefore he hoped “that VfB supporters in particular will be able to understand this step over time.”
Woltemade now wants to put the lengthy transfer summer behind him once and for all and get started at his new club. His Premier League debut is approaching, and he could even be in the starting lineup for this Saturday’s game (4 p.m.) against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Woltemade is looking forward to it: “The Premier League is the best league in the world, and we’re playing in the Champions League. I’m part of it. How cool is that?”