Schalke graduate Keke Topp has made a successful start at Werder Bremen. He scored in the first test match

This summer, Keke Topp moved from Schalke 04 to Werder Bremen – and the 20-year-old striker has clearly taken his strong form from the final stages of the last second division season with him.

In his first outing in the green and white jersey, Topp was immediately the center of attention. He came on in the second half of Sunday’s 2-0 test match win against Oberliga side FC Verden 04 and took around 20 minutes to score his first goal. In the 65th minute, Topp scored the final goal in front of 5500 spectators with a low shot from Dawid Kownacki.

An auspicious start for the youngster, who returned to his home club from the Ruhr region for a transfer fee of around two million euros. Topp had transferred from SVW’s youth academy to the Schalke Knappenschmiede in 2021

In the past season, he earned himself a place in the professional squad and established himself as a regular in the final third of the season. Topp scored five goals for Schalke. The pre-season preparation with Bremen offers the Bremervörde native the opportunity to develop good prospects for regular playing time in the Bundesliga with coach Ole Werner – initially at the ten-day training camp in Zillertal (from July 17).

Werner certainly seems to be a fan of Topp’s qualities. “This type of player doesn’t come around that often at this age,” said the coach at the start of training. “He feels very comfortable in the final chain and is good at winning balls. He brings power and physicality. He has asserted himself at Schalke and taken his first steps in the professional game. I trust him to continue this development with us.”

And Topp himself? The young attacker struck a down-to-earth tone at the start of his time with the Bremen professionals. “I’m 20 years old, I’ve just played my first professional season,” he said in a media roundtable. “You shouldn’t set your expectations too high. “