Newcastle United interested in Werder Bremen defender Abdoul Karim Coulibaly hero image

Newcastle United interested in Werder Bremen defender Abdoul Karim Coulibaly

The 18-year-old defender has attracted attention from several clubs for a potential summer transfer.

Published: 24 Mar 2026 12:56 GMT • 3h ago

Newcastle United is one of several teams to have shown interest in SV Werder Bremen's 18-year-old defender, Abdoul Karim Coulibaly, who also holds Ivorian nationality. Chelsea and Naples are also pursuing the player, who is a German U21 international. He has made 22 appearances and scored one goal in the Bundesliga this season. Other clubs interested in him include PSG and Olympique de Marseille.

Werder Bremen is currently in a relegation battle and is reportedly hoping to sell the left-footed player for a fee between €40 million and €50 million in the summer. His contract is valid until 2029 and his value on Transfermarkt is €22.00m. Reports from March 2026 indicated that Werder's asking price could be as low as €25-30 million for some clubs, after the club reportedly rejected offers of more than €20 million during the winter 2026 window. The club's sporting director, Clemens Fritz, acknowledged on Sport1-Doppelpass that it was not surprising for a young, starting Bundesliga defender to attract attention from other clubs.