Report: Kratt’s Transfer To Werder Bremen Taking Shape

Ronan Kratt’s suspected move towards Werder Bremen has progressed, with Manual Veth reporting that the move will take shape in the form of a loan with an obligation to buy after an undisclosed amount of appearances.

Northern Tribune has confirmed that the 19-year-old’s return to German football will indeed come through an initial loan spell, with York United positioning themselves well to capitalize if the winger continues to impress broad if Kratt can accrue a select number of matches at the U-23 and reserve levels.

Kratt had arrived a midseason reinforcement for York United and immediately impressed in Canada’s top flight, bagging two goals and one assist in fourteen league appearances.

The forward had arrived to Werder Bremen for a training stint in November, but 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.

This wouldn’t be Kratt’s first club stint in Germany, either: 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.

Kratt is 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, it could be 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.

There have also been smaller moves with Matteo Hernandez to CD Real Tomayapo, and intra-league transfers like Mamadou Kane to Vancouver FC and Cedric Toussaint to Pacific FC before that.

With Kratt having been expected to supply a bulk of domestic U-21 minutes for York United, however, the Ontario-based side will need to recruit smartly to replace Kratt ahead of the 2023 season to cover for his loan upwards.

The only other domestic U-21 athletes currently on the books are Eleias Himaras and Markiyan Voytsekhovskyy.

Header Image Photo Credit: John Jacques