Merlin Rohl moved to Everton from SC Freiburg during the summer transfer window
16:01, 24 Sep 2025Updated 16:01, 24 Sep 2025
Merlin Rohl during the Premier League match between Everton and Aston Villa at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
SC Freiburg sporting director Jochen Saier has revealed why his club allowed Merlin Rohl to join Everton. The Blues secured the services of the 23-year-old on transfer deadline day.
Rohl moved to Hill Dickinson Stadium on a season-long loan deal, which includes an obligation to buy for just over £18m in 2026. The midfielder, who can also play left-back, had been on the Blues’ radar for a significant period, and the club decided to act towards the end of the window.
Rohl played almost 50 Bundesliga games across the past three seasons for Freiburg and was a second-half substitute for Germany in the final of the U21s Euros in the summer, which they lost to England.
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He made his Everton debut off the bench against Aston Villa earlier this month but has missed his side’s last two games, against Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers, due to injury.
And Saier, speaking to FussballTransfers, has revealed fitness issues were one of the reasons his club decided to sanction the deal.
He said: “There were external factors such as injuries and illness, for which Merlin cannot be blamed and which we have to accept.
“After his return in the second half of the season, things went well for the team, and it wasn’t easy for him to get into the starting line up.”
Before he added: “What role will Merlin play for us? In which position will he secure and consolidate a starting spot?
“What difference will he make in terms of scoring points? Because if you don’t make a transfer like that, you have to keep a real, consistent return on the pitch.
“Merlin, too, was keen to take this exciting step, the conditions were right for us. Merlin was only very rarely used in the centre, at six or eight, but was mostly deployed in the attacking positions.
“Especially behind the striker, we have personnel options in Johan Manzambi, Eren Dinkci, and Yuito Suzuki, whom we believe will develop well with regular playing time.”