Atubolu Set to Join Onyedika at Eintracht Frankfurt
Super Eagles-eligible goalkeeper Noah Atubolu is reportedly closing in on a move to Eintracht Frankfurt, where he could link up with fellow Nigerian international Raphael Onyedika, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
According to Kicker, SC Freiburg and Atubolu have reached an agreement in principle over a contract extension that would facilitate a potential loan move to Frankfurt while protecting Freiburg’s financial interests.
The 24-year-old goalkeeper, who has also attracted interest from Marseille, was originally contracted to Freiburg until June 2027. He had previously rejected an extension after setting his sights on a move to a bigger club, preferably in the Premier League.
However, reported interest from Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Hull City failed to result in a transfer, leaving Atubolu facing an uncertain future at Freiburg.
Atubolu has been Freiburg’s first-choice goalkeeper for the past three seasons and helped the club reach the 2026 UEFA Europa League final. He also made 36 Bundesliga appearances last season and has received senior Germany call-ups, although he was not included in the country’s 2026 World Cup squad.
His prospects of returning to Freiburg’s starting lineup have diminished following the arrival of Mio Backhaus from Werder Bremen as the club’s new first-choice goalkeeper.
Frankfurt, meanwhile, are looking to strengthen between the posts after conceding seven goals in a pre-season defeat to Brentford. Freiburg have reportedly valued Atubolu at around €15 million, a fee Frankfurt are reluctant to pay outright.
A contract extension followed by a loan, potentially including an option to buy, is therefore emerging as the preferred solution for both clubs.
Born in Germany to Nigerian parents, Atubolu remains eligible to represent both Germany and Nigeria. He has made 22 appearances for Germany U21 but is yet to play for the senior national team, meaning the door remains open for a future Super Eagles switch.
If the move goes through, Atubolu would join Onyedika at Frankfurt. The Nigerian midfielder completed a permanent move from Club Brugge this month and has already made an impressive start to life in Germany.
Onyedika earned a 9.1 rating from SofaScore after helping Frankfurt thrash SC St. Tönis 11-0 in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, the biggest victory in the club’s history in the competition.
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