Spanish media outlets have revealed that Barcelona turned down the chance to sign German striker Nick Woltemade after he was offered to the Catalan club during the closing days of the summer transfer window.
According to Mundo Deportivo, negotiations never advanced beyond an initial proposal because the Newcastle forward’s name was put forward late, by which time Barcelona had already settled on Gabriel Jesus and reached a near-final agreement for the Brazilian.
Barcelona’s sporting director and manager Hansi Flick favored Jesus’s skill set, viewing him as a mobile striker adept at pressing, link-up play, and maneuvering tight spaces—qualities that aligned closely with their primary transfer target at the time, Julián Álvarez.
In contrast, the 24-year-old Woltemade offers a distinctly different profile. Standing 1.98 meters tall, he relies on physical strength, hold-up play, and a dominant presence inside the penalty box, complemented by solid technical ability and the capacity to function as a second striker.
The German international built his reputation at VfB Stuttgart, scoring 18 goals in 36 appearances and guiding the club to a DFB-Pokal triumph. His breakout performances prompted Newcastle United to make a major investment of around €75 million to secure his signature in the summer of 2025.
Statistically, Woltemade scored twice in 51 matches for Werder Bremen before enjoying a 10-goal campaign across 32 appearances with Elversberg prior to his breakthrough at Stuttgart. During his time in England with Newcastle, he managed 11 goals and six assists in 53 appearances.
With the door to Barcelona closed, Woltemade turned his sights toward Italy in search of expanded playing time, joining Juventus on loan through June 30, 2027, as he looks to rediscover the form that made him one of Germany’s most promising attacking talents.
