Newcastle’s £65m Swoop for Nick Woltemade Criticised by Bayern Executives Despite Forward’s Bright Start

Key Takeaways:

• On transfer deadline day, Newcastle paid Stuttgart £65 million to secure Nick Woltemade in a club-record move
• The 23-year-old German international has scored two goals in his first three Premier League appearances
• Bayern Munich officials have publicly criticised Newcastle for paying Stuttgart’s asking price for Woltemade

Background to the Transfer

In the final days of the summer transfer window, Newcastle United made a decisive move by signing Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart for a fee of £65 million, setting a new record for the club. The acquisition of the 23-year-old forward came shortly before Alexander Isak completed a significant £125 million transfer to Liverpool.

Woltemade’s Impact at Newcastle

Woltemade has quickly settled into life at St James’ Park, delivering two goals in his opening three Premier League appearances. His early form has drawn attention, both for his sharp eye for goal and his contribution to Eddie Howe’s attacking set-up.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge on Nick Woltemade: "I'll be honest: When this story with Woltemade and then the demands of Stuttgart came up, I, as well as Uli, Herbert Hainer, Jan Dreesen, and Max Eberl, said: guys, we’re reaching figures that I no longer find acceptable. We shouldn’t… pic.twitter.com/2SvvrTFz0n

— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) September 29, 2025

Bayern Munich’s Failed Pursuit and Reaction

During the same transfer window, Bayern Munich targeted Woltemade as a potential back-up for Harry Kane. Bayern board member Max Eberl openly discussed the club’s intention to sign the German international, but Stuttgart rejected three separate offers from the Bundesliga champions, insisting the striker was not for sale. Newcastle’s late approach, however, prompted Stuttgart to open negotiations, ultimately resulting in the record-breaking transfer.

Prominent figures at Bayern Munich have since expressed strong opinions about the deal. Supervisory board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge publicly labelled Newcastle as ‘idiots’ for meeting Stuttgart’s asking price, continuing a recent trend of critical comments from within the Bayern hierarchy regarding both Newcastle and Woltemade.

“I’ll be honest: When this story with Woltemade and then the demand from Stuttgart came up, I, as well as Uli, Herbert Hainer, Jan Dreesen, and Max Eberl, said – folks, we’re slowly getting to a level that I simply don’t find acceptable anymore,” he told the BR programme ‘Blickpunkt Sport’.

“We shouldn’t fulfill every demand to make someone happy, especially the financiers at VfB Stuttgart.

“I can only congratulate those in Stuttgart for finding – I’ll use quotation marks here – an idiot who paid that much money. Because we certainly wouldn’t have done that in Munich.”

Reports from Germany suggested that Bayern were “surprised and disappointed” by Woltemade’s decision to join the Premier League, as the player had been widely expected to move to Munich if he left Stuttgart.

Broader Criticism from Bayern Hierarchy

Other Bayern executives have weighed in on the transfer. Honorary president Uli Hoeness remarked last month that, “He [Woltemade] isn’t worth the fee. That only happened because of the money flowing from Saudi Arabia.” Meanwhile, sports director Christoph Freund argued that financial incentives in England were a central factor in the player’s choice.

“Bayern Munich is Bayern Munich, a very, very big club,” Freund said last month. “The boys can win titles here, we can offer them very interesting options internationally, and domestically as well.

“It’s always the player’s decision. We at Bayern Munich are very, very attractive, we notice that again and again when we talk to players. Financially, the Premier League is in a different league. You have discussions, you have a certain relationship.

“Ultimately, it’s the player’s decision as to what’s the best step for his career. We’re not involved in that.

“The sums of money involved; how much money is at stake; that they have brutal opportunities in the Premier League. Not just two or three clubs, many clubs. Newcastle is a good club, but not the top tier.”

Woltemade’s Credentials and Career So Far

Woltemade arrived on Tyneside with an impressive CV, having scored 17 goals in 33 appearances for Stuttgart across all competitions last season. The forward’s performances earned him a regular place in the Germany national team, for whom he has made four senior appearances.

Conclusion

Despite public criticism from Bayern Munich’s leadership regarding the financial terms of the transfer, Nick Woltemade has delivered an immediate impact at Newcastle. The debate continues over the value and ramifications of such deals, as Europe’s top clubs compete for rising stars in a rapidly evolving transfer market.