Nick Woltemade delivered Newcastle United’s first three points of the Premier League season, stepping up in style to help fans move on from the departure of Alexander Isak to Liverpool.
The 23-year-old German striker scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday (Sept 13, 2025), heading in a pinpoint cross from Jacob Murphy a classic No. 9 finish.
Woltemade’s arrival already seems to be addressing Newcastle’s early-season struggles in front of goal. In their first three matches against Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Leeds United, the Magpies managed just two goals from a total of 34 shots a worrying return for a team with European ambitions.
During that stretch, Woltemade had yet to join the squad, and Isak was sidelined after pushing for a transfer. Although the German striker was officially signed weeks earlier, international duty with Germany in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers against Slovakia and Northern Ireland delayed his club debut.
“I’ve only been here for four days, so everything still feels very new,” Woltemade told BBC after the match. “But I put that aside today and just focused on what I needed to do.”
Woltemade was handed a starting spot by manager Eddie Howe due to a knee injury that ruled out fellow new signing Yoane Wissa until October. The young forward seized the opportunity with both hands.
“I think the coach gave me a really good feeling heading into the game, and that helped me feel comfortable on the pitch,” he continued. “I knew what was expected of me and I think today you saw, everyone knew their role.”
The St. James’ Park crowd didn’t take long to show their appreciation, with chants of “Woltemade, Woltemade, ole, ole, ole” echoing around the stadium. Howe was full of praise for his new No. 9.
“He’s not your typical striker. He’s very unique,” said the Newcastle boss. “The more you watch him, the more you see how different he is not just because of his size, but also in how he plays.”
“He’s got a creative side too. You saw flashes of that today little touches, clever passes things that can really break down a tough defense.”
Woltemade’s game isn’t just about goals. He linked up well with teammates throughout the match, completing 89% of his passes a sign of his intent to be more than just a target man.
Signed from Stuttgart for £65 million, the young German has made a strong first impression. Whether he can truly fill the void left by Isak remains to be seen but this was a promising start.
