Everton have confirmed that Merlin Röhl’s loan move from SC Freiburg has been converted into a permanent transfer. The Merseyside club officially announced the deal on Monday, securing the 24-year-old midfielder on a full-time basis following his temporary spell last season.
The agreement will see the German club receive approximately €25 million in total, a sum that incorporates the loan fee paid when Röhl initially joined David Moyes’ squad. During his temporary stay, the versatile player featured in 17 matches across all competitions and found the net once.
One of Freiburg’s record sales
The transfer fee places Röhl among the most lucrative departures in Freiburg’s history. He now shares the club’s transfer record with Kevin Schade, who moved to Brentford for the same €25 million figure in 2023. This milestone highlights the Bundesliga outfit’s growing reputation for developing talent that commands significant fees in the Premier League market.
Röhl offers tactical flexibility, having demonstrated capability to operate both in midfield and in more advanced attacking positions. This versatility provided Moyes with additional options during the previous campaign and is expected to strengthen Everton’s squad depth ahead of the new season.
Freiburg face further departure speculation
While Röhl’s departure matches the existing record, Freiburg may soon surpass it. Current squad member Johan Manzambi is attracting significant interest from Newcastle United. The Swiss international, who has contributed two goals and two assists in five appearances, is being tracked closely by the Magpies and could command a fee that eclipses the €25 million mark should a transfer materialise.
For Everton, securing Röhl permanently concludes a lengthy pursuit and provides continuity within the squad. The German youth international’s adaptation to English football during his loan spell appears to have convinced the club’s hierarchy to trigger the obligatory purchase clause.