Werder Bremen started the 2011–12 season by beating lower division German side Meppen by 13–1.

[citation needed] Bremen lost Torsten Frings and Petri Pasanen on free transfers to Toronto FC and Red Bull Salzburg respectively.

The club also lost Peter Niemeyer, who joined Hertha BSC permanently after having been on loan during the 2010–11 season.

Bremen signed Mehmet Ekici from Bayern Munich and Tom Trybull from Hansa Rostock.

[citation needed] During the winter transfer window, Bremen sold Andreas Wolf and sent Sandro Wagner out on loan, while signing 2010 Austrian Player of the Year Zlatko Junuzović from Austria Wien.