The player dominating the conversation in Germany right now is neither Bayern Munich’s new arrival Luis Díaz nor their star striker Harry Kane. Both found the net in Bayern’s Franz Beckenbauer Supercup victory, yet the spotlight fell on another forward — one still wearing Stuttgart’s colors.
Nick Woltemade has emerged as a major target for Bayern after a breakout debut season at Stuttgart, where he scored 17 goals before topping the scoring charts at the European Under-21 Championship in the summer. That run was capped by his first senior Germany appearance. Predictably, Bayern’s interest followed. As ex-Bayern forward Claudio Pizarro notes: “When a German player shines, Bayern take notice.”
Even without scoring in the Supercup — his close-range effort denied by Manuel Neuer — Woltemade caught the eye. Matched up against the physical Dayot Upamecano, he held his ground, linking play well for Stuttgart. “Nick thrives in moments like this,” says his captain Atakan Karazor. But with Stuttgart resisting, his agent talking, and Bayern circling, the pressure on the 21-year-old is immense.
Jurgen Klinsmann, who once made the same journey from Stuttgart to Bayern, understands the dilemma: “When Bayern knock, the question is simple — what if I say no? Every player wants to test himself at the highest level. It’s hard for Stuttgart to fight that.”
Standing at 6’6″ with surprising agility, Woltemade offers a rare blend of physical presence and technical quality. He completed 31 dribbles in the Bundesliga last season, proving he is far more than just a target man. Stuttgart legend Cacau calls him “the perfect number nine — unconventional, tall, yet technical and creative.”
Germany, long a nation that cherished powerful goal scorers, sees Woltemade as a throwback to its great strikers. “True number nines are rare globally,” says Klinsmann. “For Germany, he is a big hope.”
Still, Woltemade is a work in progress. Only last year he joined Stuttgart after a modest spell at Werder Bremen. Pizarro, who briefly played alongside him there, remembers a shy teenager already showing promise. “He’s special, but he must use his size better — especially in the air. That will come with time.”
For now, Stuttgart looks like the right place for his development, where he’ll play every week in the Bundesliga and Europe. But at Bayern, especially with Jamal Musiala injured and Thomas Müller departing, he could be eased in alongside Kane, before eventually succeeding him.
Whether that step comes this year or later remains the big question. “Stuttgart is still where he can grow,” says Pizarro. “But how long will that last?” adds Cacau, hinting at Bayern or even a Premier League move down the line.
Until then, the spotlight in Germany will remain firmly fixed on Nick Woltemade.
