News Focus
- Noah Atubolu will depart SC Freiburg during the summer transfer window.
- The club tried for six months to extend his contract beyond 2027.
- Mio Backhaus has already joined from Werder Bremen as his replacement.
- Premier League, Serie A and other Bundesliga clubs are interested in signing the goalkeeper.
- Atubolu came through the Freiburg academy and became first-choice keeper at age 21.
SC Freiburg have officially confirmed that goalkeeper Noah Atubolu will leave the club this summer. The 22-year-old German shot-stopper will move on after the club failed to agree a new contract with him.
Jochen Saier, the sporting director, spoke to German outlet Kicker about the situation. He said they held regular meetings with Atubolu over the past six months. They made strong efforts to extend his deal, but both sides have now agreed a transfer is best.
Freiburg have already secured a replacement. They signed Mio Backhaus from SV Werder Bremen to take over between the posts.
Saier revealed that club officials spoke with Atubolu personally after the Europa League final. They told him he could now plan his future with his agents. The keeper is free to find a new club that suits his career goals.
Several top European teams are tracking the young keeper. Clubs from the Premier League, Serie A and the German top flight have all shown interest in recent months.
The Freiburg director praised Atubolu as a local talent who joined their academy at a young age. He noted that they gave him the number one shirt when he was just 21. Saier described the move as the end of a successful story for both the player and the club.