Former Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita has secured a move to Hungarian champions Ferencváros after a turbulent spell at Werder Bremen.
The German club had frozen him out in April, accusing him of going AWOL, an allegation Keita has always denied.
The midfielder will join Ferencváros on loan for the entirety of 2025, with the transfer set to take effect in January.
Keita was suspended from first-team activities by Werder Bremen after reportedly refusing to board the team bus ahead of a match against Bayer Leverkusen in April, upon learning he would be left out of the starting line-up.
In response to the allegations, Keita accused the club of attempting to “tarnish my image.”
In an interview with The Guardian in October, Keita briefly addressed the incident, shedding some light on his side of the story.
“We’ll have to talk about the bus incident one day, but everyone who knows me knows that I’m a professional and that I’m not undisciplined,” Keita said.
“Despite everything, I apologised to the group even before the end of last season because we’re all human and nobody’s perfect. Wherever I’ve been, from Salzburg to Leipzig to Liverpool, I’ve always tried to be exemplary.
“…All I’ve wanted to do is play for the fans and the club. But it’s not up to me. The club decided to put me with the under-23s.
“I’m training with them and helping the youngsters while I wait for the wheels to turn.”
Naby Keita’s time at Werder Bremen has officially come to an end, with the club confirming that the midfielder will not play for them again.
Contracted until 2026, Keita joined Bremen after leaving Liverpool in the summer of 2023 but endured a difficult stint plagued by injuries.
In his nine months at the club, the 29-year-old made just five appearances, starting only once and accumulating a total of 107 minutes on the pitch.
It was a stark contrast to his time at Liverpool, where he won both the Champions League and Premier League titles.
Keita will now look to reignite his career in Hungary.
Bremen’s managing director, Clemens Fritz, expressed relief at resolving the impasse, stating that the agreement marked the best path forward for both parties.
“We are happy that we have found this solution together with Naby and his agent,” he said. “It was clear to us that Naby would no longer play for Werder.
“Therefore, this loan is the right step for him and for us. We wish Naby much success in Hungary.”
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