Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade has plenty to smile about these days. - © Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Bundesli

bundesliga

Nick Woltemade: who is the VfB Stuttgart and Germany U21 forward grabbing the limelight?

06.12.2024

Nick Woltemade made waves at Werder Bremen and Elversberg all the while rising up the international ranks with Germany. A switch to Stuttgart has further enhanced the forward's burgeoning reputation, as bundesliga.com explains.

Nick Woltemade

Data correct as of 7 December 2024

Age: 22
Club: Stuttgart
Position: Forward
Country: Germany (10 U21 caps, four goals)

Key stats

Born in Bremen, the 6'6" forward showcased his early talent at local side TS Woltmershausen - where he was also keen on handball - before city giants Werder moved to snap up the nimble-footed attacker.

Quickly moving up the ranks at the the Green-Whites, it was no surprise to soon see the teenaged Woltemade being called into Bremen's senior side to take part in training sessions and join match-day squads.

Watch: Woltemade reacts to scoring a recent double for Stuttgart against Union

A senior bow for Die Grün-Weißen was the next logical step for the forward and he grasped his chance when chosen as a 17-year-old to start a Bundesliga encounter away to Augsburg in the 2019/20 campaign. Woltemade thus became the club's youngest-ever senior debutant.

Combining his tasks with Werder at senior and youth levels that campaign, Woltemade would finish as a junior, regional champion, weighing in with 24 goal involvements (16 goals, eight assists) in the A-youth league.

His reputation flying at Werder, the forward was by now also making a name for himself at international level and after representing Germany with the U16s, would later feature at the UEFA European U17 championships. Promotions to the U20s and U21s would follow later, the player scoring four times and providing three assists as Germany qualified for the 2025 Under-21 EURO final tournament.

Woltemade (l.) in action for Werder against Bayern in January 2024. - KERSTIN JOENSSON

A loan to third-tier Elversberg in 2022 signalled Woltemade's start to life as a first-team regular at senior level. Making as many as 25 starts at the Saarland-based side, the striker scored 10 goals as Elversberg won promotion to Bundesliga 2. He was also voted the third division's Player of the Season for his efforts. Returning to Werder for the following campaign, the versatile striker scored twice in 30 Bundesliga matches in what would be his last season at the Weserstadion.

A switch to Stuttgart beckoned and the tall forward has taken to his new side with gusto. Scoring in each of VfB's DFB Cup games en route to the quarter-final stage so far this season, he also weighed in with a vital double as the Swabians came from two goals down to beat Union Berlin 3-2 on Matchday 13 in the Bundesliga.

Nick Woltemade played an important part in Germany's UEFA EURO U21 qualifying success. - IMAGO

Plays a bit like: Saša Kalajdžić

Certainly a match for the former Stuttgart favourite in terms of height (Kalajdžić stands at 6'7"), Woltemade's superb close control, athleticism and ability to spot an opening in defensive rear guards is not all that dissimilar to the Austrian, who once scored 24 goals and provided 12 assists at VfB.

Did you know?

All three of Woltemade's first Bundesliga goals for Stuttgart came as a substitute for Sebastian Hoeneß's side. The striker's brace against Union came with his first two shots on goal in the game.

What they're saying

"The first half was tough. I’m really happy we won today and that I was able to contribute." - Woltemade following his heroics against Union.

"I can't drive to my parents in ten minutes anymore; I know I'm on my own. I wanted to recognise that I'm getting older, that I'm growing up." - Woltemade on his decision to leave his home city of Bremen for Stuttgart.

“Nick is a striker who also likes to drop back. He's showing more and more the qualities of a centre forward each time." - Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß praises the 22-year-old.