The 29-year-old had been exiled from Werder Bremen's first team since deciding to stay at home on a matchday back in April.
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Naby Keita will try to resurrect his career in Hungary
Naby Keita will try to resurrect his career in Hungary(Image: X/@Fradi_HU)
Former Liverpool playmaker Naby Keita has signed for a new club after being frozen out by Werder Bremen after being accused of AWOL by the German club back in April, something he has always refuted. The midfielder will join Hungarian champions Ferencvaros on loan for the whole of 2025 in January.
Keita has been suspended from senior activity by his parent club after reportedly refusing to board the team bus ahead of a game with Bayer Leverkusen in April upon learning he would be left out of the starting line-up. The player subsequently accused the club of “trying to tarnish my image”.
Speaking to the Guardian in October, he briefly opened up on the incident. “We’ll have to talk about the bus incident one day, but everyone who knows me knows that I’m a professional and that I’m not undisciplined,” Keita insisted.
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“Despite everything, I apologised to the group even before the end of last season because we’re all human and nobody’s perfect. Wherever I’ve been, from Salzburg to Leipzig to Liverpool, I’ve always tried to be exemplary.
“...All I’ve wanted to do is play for the fans and the club. But it’s not up to me. The club decided to put me with the under-23s.
"I’m training with them and helping the youngsters while I wait for the wheels to turn.” Keita is contracted to Bremen until 2026 but will not play for them again, according to the club’s top brass.
Keita joined Bremen upon the end of his Liverpool contract in 2023 but only played five games in his first nine months due to a spate of injuries. He started just one of those outings, only playing a total of 107 minutes.
The 29-year-old, who won the Champions League and Premier League at Liverpool, will now try to get his career back on track in Hungary. Confirming the move, Bremen managing director Clemens Fritz said he was pleased to reach a resolution in the stand-off.
"We are happy that we have found this solution together with Naby and his agent,” he said. “It was clear to us that Naby would no longer play for Werder.
"Therefore, this loan is the right step for him and for us. We wish Naby much success in Hungary."
Should Ferencvaros progress into the Europa League knockout stages, Keita could return to England if his team draws either Manchester United or Tottenham. The Guinea international, who cost £52million, made 129 appearances for Liverpool between 2018 and 2023, scoring 11 times and providing seven assists.