Karim Coulibaly’s time at Werder Bremen is coming to an end after two years. The 19-year-old central defender will immediately join French Ligue 1 side Racing Strasbourg. Clemens Fritz, Werder Bremen’s football manager, announced the transfer on Friday morning.
Fritz stated that Coulibaly is a prime example of the club’s strategy to sign young, developing players and build value through them. Although the departure is difficult for the club competitively, Fritz explained that by accepting the lucrative offer, Werder Bremen is fulfilling its financial responsibility. He concluded by wishing Coulibaly all the best in his future career, both professionally and personally.
Coulibaly commented on his departure, thanking his teammates, coaches, staff, the club, his friends, family, and fans for their support and trust throughout his time there. He noted that he learned from every beautiful moment and every challenging situation, affirming that Werder Bremen will always remain a special part of his life and history.
Coulibaly joined Werder Bremen’s U19 team from Hamburger SV in 2024, where he won the DFB Cup in his first season. The native of Oldenburg made his Bundesliga debut in August 2025 during an away match in Frankfurt. Just one week later, his first professional goal was scored against Bayer Leverkusen in his first home game. Overall, Coulibaly made 27 appearances for the SVW.
