Samuel Mbangula, the 22-year-old Belgian winger Werder Bremen shelled out €10 million for just over a year ago, is reportedly on his way to Bologna for a season-long loan. This move comes only 13 months after Bremen made him their second-most expensive signing ever, a deal that reflected serious faith in his potential to lead their attack. That kind of investment usually comes with high hopes, but it looks like those hopes are being punted down the road, at least for now.
The Bremen Experiment Went Sideways
Mbangula first hit the scene in Germany with some real flashes, racking up five goal contributions in his first six Bundesliga matchdays by early October. He even netted one against St. Pauli, admitting he was still getting used to German football but promising fans they’d see him at his best. So what happened? That breakthrough never fully materialized. He wrapped up his first Bundesliga season with three goals and four assists across 29 appearances, starting only 12 times. Injuries, messing with his position, and wider attacking issues for Bremen all complicated his debut year. Head coach Daniel Thioune tried to get him back to a more natural attacking role this summer, but even that reset attempt looks like it’s over before it truly began. He was pulled at halftime in Bremen’s DFB-Pokal opener and then sat unused during Sunday’s brutal 4-1 Bundesliga loss at Freiburg. Clearly, things weren’t clicking.
Bologna Swoops In, Bremen Dodges a Bullet (For Now)
It seemed like Atalanta was the prime spot for Mbangula, with Bremen reportedly talking loans to avoid completely writing off that €10 million they spent. But then Bologna jumped into the mix. Turns out, this whole thing got complicated when Atalanta moved for Bologna attacker Jonathan Rowe. Suddenly, Bologna needed another option up front and they moved fast for Mbangula. This loan deal, with a purchase option attached, is a compromise for Bremen. They get to give Mbangula the fresh start he apparently wants, without having to immediately swallow a huge loss on one of the biggest investments in club history. Plus, Bologna head coach Domenico Tedesco knows Mbangula well, even giving him his first senior national team call-up for Belgium back in November 2024. He hasn’t debuted yet, but that connection is huge. Coach Thioune pretty much summed it up, saying Mbangula spent “twelve months trying to integrate and bring his potential onto the pitch,” and it just didn’t consistently happen.
So, Mbangula is off to Italy, hoping to finally find his rhythm with Bologna. For Bremen, this is a calculated pause, a chance to see if he can deliver on that €10 million promise somewhere else before they have to make a final call. Will this fresh start in Serie A be the real deal? You gotta hope so.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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