Bundesliga Bound: Kratt Loaned To Werder Bremen

After rumours began in late November, York United has now confirmed the loan of 19-year-old winger Ronan Kratt to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen.

The loan will see Kratt remain in Germany through to July 1, though if he makes an undisclosed amounts of appearances for Werder Bremen’s U-23 or reserve teams the move will be automatically made permanent.

“It’s a great situation for Ronan and we truly believe it is the best pathway for him,” said York United Club President Angus McNab, who describes that the loan is a move that makes sense for all parties.

The winger had first arrived to the German side on a training stint in early November after impressing at York United, where he arrived as a midseason reinforcement during an injury crisis and proved a solid addition who accrued two goals and one assist in fourteen appearances.

The young winger is now expected to suit up for the Bundesliga side’s second team with a direct path up to the first if he can impress the coaching staff long-term. As stated, the Bundesliga side can trigger an automatic purchase of the youngster if he makes an undisclosed number of U-23 and second team appearances.

This won’t be Kratt’s first club stint in Germany: the young winger had played with SSV Ulm 1846 at the U-19 level, where the likes of Mario Gomez and Thomas Tuchel once developed.

He proved a versatile forward capable of playing on both wings while in Europe, bagging a few goals en route to a WFV Pokal U-19 Cup Final and two roster selections for the Canada U-20 squad, though he’s also eligible for the US national team.

Kratt’s contract with York United is set to run through the 2023 season with a club option for a further year. With the loan move including the possibility of activating a purchase clause through appearances outside of the first team, this looks like a very smart piece of business from the Nine Stripes.

The club has seen transfer moves aplenty over the last year or so, Isaiah Johnston being sold to Huntsville City, Diyaeddine Abzi being sold to Ligue 2 side Pau FC, and Lowell Wright off to the Whitecaps FC 2.