SC Freiburg is experiencing a transfer summer like no other. With €36 million spent on new signings, the Breisgau club has shattered its own record – and that’s before the start of pre-season training. The signing of Yannik Engelhardt, returning from Como 1907, capped off a remarkable summer on the incoming side. Yet while Freiburg shines on the transfer market, the future of goalkeeper Noah Atubolu remains uncertain. Premier League clubs and Aston Villa have shown interest, but no move is confirmed yet.
How SC Freiburg is dominating the transfer market
This summer will go down as one of the most lucrative in SC Freiburg’s history. The sale of Johan Manzambi to Aston Villa brought in up to €70 million including bonuses, flooding the club’s coffers. On the incoming side, Freiburg broke its own record by spending €36 million on new players – surpassing the previous high set just last season. Mio Backhaus, Keisuke Goto and Rihito Yamamoto arrived first, before Yannik Engelhardt was officially unveiled on Saturday.
The midfielder brings Bundesliga experience from his loan at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Klemens Hartenbach, Freiburg’s sporting director, highlights Engelhardt’s strengths: “Yannik made a strong impression in his first spell at SC Freiburg. He reads the game well and is technically gifted.” Returning to the team, the 24-year-old is expected to add structure and creativity to the midfield.
Atubolu’s future: Premier League clubs circle
While Freiburg strengthens its squad, the situation around goalkeeper Noah Atubolu remains tense. The 24-year-old is a transfer target, with several top Premier League clubs monitoring his progress. Aston Villa, currently well-staffed with Emiliano Martínez, and AFC Bournemouth under Marco Rose are among the interested parties. Yet no deal is done – Atubolu is still training with the team and could even feature in Thursday’s Europa League match.
Sporting director Jochen Saier remains composed: “Of course, there could still be changes during pre-season. But for now, we’re very happy with the squad.” The incoming transfers are largely finalized, though Saier hasn’t ruled out further adjustments.
Freiburg’s season opener nears – and questions linger
With this record transfer window, SC Freiburg has underlined its ambitions for the new season. The team kicks off its Bundesliga campaign on August 16, 2026, but Atubolu’s future could still disrupt the squad. If the goalkeeper leaves, Freiburg may need to act fast – or rely on Mark Flekken or Philipp Pentke as backups.
Freiburg finished seventh in the final 2025 table with 47 points, securing 13 wins, 8 draws and 13 losses. Their last five matches ended in two wins, one draw and two losses (WWLLD), and the team is currently on a two-game winning streak. Though 42 points behind Bayern Munich, European qualification remains the target.
SC Freiburg has proven this summer that it can compete with the top clubs in the transfer market. Whether these investments pay off on the pitch will become clear in the coming months.
