Noah Atubolu’s transfer saga has turned into a genuine Serie A tug of war, and his eventual destination could carry real consequences for the international battle between Germany and Nigeria.
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SSC Napoli have joined Juventus and Olympique Marseille in the race to sign SC Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, with the German club willing to let their number one leave for around 15 million euros this summer.
Freiburg’s willingness to sell stems partly from smart succession planning. The club has already signed goalkeeper Mio Backhaus from Werder Bremen for 12 million euros, a move that has made letting Atubolu go this summer far more comfortable than risking losing him for a smaller fee further down the line.
Napoli are pushing hard as they look to build a long term goalkeeping plan around a player still only in his mid-20s, while Juventus view Atubolu as a strong alternative option of their own and Marseille remain firmly in the running. According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Atubolu’s representatives have already travelled to Italy for direct talks with both Napoli and Juventus. Fans following the transfer race can check Bet9ja’s current promo code as the summer window enters its final stretch.
His path to Italy wasn’t the original plan. Atubolu had initially hoped to move to the Premier League, but the English market never produced an offer that convinced him. Newly promoted Hull City and Coventry City made approaches that went nowhere, and bigger names including Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur were all linked without turning interest into a firm bid Freiburg would accept. That door closing has left Serie A as his most realistic next step. New Bet9ja users following Nigerian-eligible talent across Europe can check how to get the Bet9ja promotion code before the window closes.
For Nigerian football, Atubolu’s next move carries weight well beyond his own career. Born in Freiburg to a German mother and a Nigerian father, former lower-league pro Tunde Atubolu, the 24 year old has come through Germany’s youth system and received senior call ups from Julian Nagelsmann as injury cover, but he has never actually played a competitive senior match for Die Mannschaft. Under FIFA eligibility rules, that means his door to the Super Eagles remains fully open. Punters tracking Nigeria’s goalkeeping options can check Bet9ja’s YOHAIG code as the transfer situation develops.
A move to a club like Napoli, Juventus or Marseille would raise his profile considerably, giving Nigerian federation officials an even stronger case to make if they hope to convince him to commit before Germany forces the issue with a competitive cap. With Freiburg’s asking price now public and multiple major clubs circling, Atubolu’s next destination looks set to be decided within weeks rather than months.
📌 Did You Know?
- Atubolu’s father, Tunde Atubolu, was a Nigerian footballer who played as a striker in Germany’s lower divisions.
- He was born in Freiburg on 25 May 2002 and has spent his entire career at SC Freiburg, joining the club’s academy at just 13.
- Atubolu broke Manuel Neuer’s appearance record for Germany’s U21 side.
- He helped Freiburg reach a Europa League final during his time as the club’s number one.
- Freiburg have already signed goalkeeper Mio Backhaus from Werder Bremen for 12 million euros as insurance ahead of Atubolu’s likely exit.
- Under FIFA rules, a player capped only at Under-21 level or below can still switch international allegiance, provided he hasn’t played a competitive senior match, a threshold Atubolu has not yet crossed for Germany.
- Freiburg previously sold goalkeeper Mark Flekken to Brentford for around 7 million euros in 2023.
