Tim Steidten, West Ham United’s former director of football, has continued to defend the deal for Niclas Füllkrug last summer.
[Journalist Florian Plettenberg](https://x.com/Plettigoal/status/1942555783377375669) cover comments from him today as he insisted that he’d do the deal for the striker all over again if given the chance.
Füllkrug joined West Ham in a €27m deal from Borussia Dortmund after an impressive year with the German side following a €17.25m move in August 2023. He was a key player that year as they reached the Champions League final.
He was unable to replicate that form at the London Stadium, though, as a series of injuries limited his time on the pitch and his output to three goals and two assists in 20 games to date.
Most have questioned West Ham’s logic in signing the 32-year-old for the figure that they did, most of the time as a broader look at Steidten’s work in the transfer window during his time in charge at the London Stadium.
He has regularly defended his work at the club in face of that criticism and has continued to do so when it comes to Füllkrug.
“Niclas is fit. I messaged him a few days ago – physically, he is in top shape. I am certain that he will function one hundred per cent in the Premier League,” he is quoted as saying.
“In the end, we were at a fee of €22m with Dortmund, and I would do the transfer again at any time.
“Dortmund said he had been too expensive – for me, he was still too cheap. Niclas was not only the type of player I was looking for on the pitch, but also someone who can lead the team off the pitch.”