Eintracht Frankfurt signs Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu on loan with purchase obligation

Agreement reached before season opener

Eintracht Frankfurt completed the signing of goalkeeper Noah Atubolu from SC Freiburg on Friday, four days before the transfer window closes. The 24-year-old arrives on a one-year loan deal with a conditional purchase obligation. Reporting from Focus and Sky indicates a loan fee of 1 million euros and a purchase obligation between 12.5 million and 13 million euros, with potential add-ons reaching nearly 16 million euros. To comply with German Football Association loan rules, Atubolu extended his Freiburg contract by one year on Wednesday. The goalkeeper completed his medical in Frankfurt on Thursday while head coach Adi Hütter addressed reporters ahead of the league opener against Union Berlin.

Resolution to Freiburg standoff

The transfer concludes months of negotiations that began when Atubolu requested a move early in the year to pursue opportunities in the English Premier League. That move failed to materialize despite his previous call-ups to the German senior national squad. Freiburg prepared for his departure by signing Mio Backhaus from Werder Bremen for a reported fee of 12 million euros alongside Florian Müller and Jannik Huth. Freiburg coach Julian Schuster did not include Atubolu in pre-season matches, requiring the goalkeeper to train individually. Board members Oliver Leki and Jochen Saier had initially sought a fee between 15 and 20 million euros before agreeing to the loan structure.

We have very complicated weeks and months behind us. The contract extension, which took place regardless of further developments, is the result of trustworthy cooperation with Noah himself, especially in recent days, which put us in a position to act. With the transfer model to Eintracht Frankfurt, we have found a satisfactory solution for us.

Goalkeeper hierarchy in Frankfurt

Frankfurt sought a new primary goalkeeper following discussions surrounding Kaua Santos and Michael Zetterer. With outright purchases constrained by player sales, sporting director Markus Krösche secured the 1.90-meter goalkeeper as the team's intended starter. Head coach Adi Hütter noted that Atubolu's status for Saturday's match at Union Berlin in Köpenick will be determined following final training alongside goalkeeper coach Jan Zimmermann.

We brought Noah in as number one. After final training, we will decide who stands in goal on Saturday.

With Noah Atubolu, we gain a strong, ambitious, and at the same time already very experienced goalkeeper. He brings great potential, plenty of mentality, and the necessary quality to provide important impetus to our team. We are convinced that Noah will take the next step in his development with us and strengthen us sporting-wise.

National team prospects under Klopp

Atubolu, Freiburg's starting goalkeeper for the past three seasons, moves to Frankfurt to secure first-team minutes in the Bundesliga. The player welcomed the move as preparations for the weekend opener conclude.

I am very happy to be here and can hardly wait to get started at Eintracht Frankfurt. I know the city, the club, and the stadium, and I have always experienced matches here as something special.

Atubolu previously earned nominations for the German national team but remains uncapped. With manager Jürgen Klopp scheduled to announce his first national squad on 17 September 2026, Germany's starting goalkeeper position remains contested following Manuel Neuer's departure. Competing as Frankfurt's first-choice keeper offers Atubolu an avenue into the senior squad.