Noah Atubolu a Topic: The Goalkeeper Question Has Troubled Frankfurt for Years

The Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper situation has been a source of instability for the team for almost two years. The lack of a clear number one has created unease, with a revolving door of goalkeepers including Kevin Trapp, Kaua Santos, and Michael Zetterer. Now, Noah Atubolu from Freiburg is reportedly a target, sparking debate among fans and club officials.

The goalkeeping turmoil for Eintracht effectively began around two years ago, on September 14, 2024, during a match against Wolfsburg. First-choice goalkeeper and captain Kevin Trapp suffered a thigh injury during the game, leading to the introduction of young Brazilian keeper Kaua Santos. After impressing in training, Santos was given his Bundesliga debut and performed strongly, showcasing his potential as the team's future. Although he made a significant error in one match, his overall performances suggested he could be the long-term solution. However, upon Trapp's recovery, he returned to the starting lineup, and Santos returned to the bench.

The pendulum swung back in the spring of 2025. Trapp faced criticism after a series of subpar performances, particularly in a Europa Cup match against Ajax Amsterdam. When he also experienced shin problems, it was Santos's chance to shine again. The Brazilian delivered outstanding performances in crucial games, including the return leg against Amsterdam, a 3-1 victory in Bochum, and the first leg in Tottenham. In these matches, Santos single-handedly saved Eintracht with his remarkable saves.

However, just as quickly as Santos rose, he faced a setback. In the Europa League quarter-final second leg against Tottenham, Santos rushed out of his goal uncontrollably shortly before halftime. This led to a penalty and a goal for Tottenham, which ultimately eliminated Eintracht from the competition. More devastatingly, Santos sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear during the incident.

By the spring of 2025, it was clear that Eintracht intended to rely on Santos as their number one in the long term. This was not met with favor by Trapp, who, after contemplating his future, moved to Paris FC in the summer of 2025. His departure also meant the loss of his leadership qualities both on and off the pitch, ending the period of stability in goal for Eintracht.

Meanwhile, Santos opted against surgery for his ACL injury and returned to the goal in September 2025, much earlier than anticipated. The Brazilian appeared uncertain and made numerous mistakes. This resulted in yet another change in the goalkeeping position. Michael Zetterer, signed from Bremen, took over from Santos. However, at the beginning of 2026, then-coach Dino Toppmöller reverted to Santos, but only for two months. After Santos suffered a knee ligament tear, Zetterer was back in goal until the end of the season.

This constant rotation of goalkeepers was closely observed by Adi Hütter from afar. Dismissed from his coaching role at Monaco in October 2025, Hütter, who had previously managed Eintracht from 2018 to 2021, maintained his interest in his former club. Upon his appointment as the new Eintracht coach at the end of May, the Austrian brought with him valuable expertise regarding goalkeeping.

From his first day, Hütter communicated to the Eintracht management that he was not convinced by the goalkeeper pairing of Santos and Zetterer and expressed a desire for an external goalkeeper. However, Eintracht had other pressing personnel issues at the time, needing defenders, strikers, and defensive midfielders, and there was simply no budget for a new goalkeeper.

The turning point came after a 0-7 friendly defeat against Brentford and further errors from Santos. This led to another goalkeeping upheaval. Eintracht is now seeking a new goalkeeper, with Freiburg's Noah Atubolu reportedly being the (costly) desired candidate. This is a solution also supported by the club's fanbase, with 68 percent of the approximately 10,000 fans surveyed by hr-sport between Monday and Tuesday voting in favor of Atubolu in the Eintracht goal.

Reports suggest that Eintracht has been considering Atubolu for some time. Sources indicate that a transfer is at least within the realm of possibility. The significant hurdle, however, is the current price tag, which is simply too high for Eintracht. The crucial question is whether Freiburg's demands will change by early September and what further developments will occur at Frankfurt. The Bild newspaper reported on Tuesday that a transfer fee of around 15 million euros could be realistic.

It is clear that the situation in Frankfurt has been unsettled since Monday, and even more so with the Atubolu news. But what would happen to the current goalkeepers if the Freiburg keeper were signed? The TV channel Sky and the Frankfurter Rundschau reported that Premier League club Leeds United is interested in Zetterer, as their own goalkeeper is reportedly on the verge of moving to Italy. According to hr-sport, the 31-year-old also has market interest. However, the Bild newspaper contradicted this, reporting that Zetterer wishes to stay in Frankfurt and that Santos might be the one to leave.

Therefore, the goalkeeper situation remains uncertain, but the need for a resolution is urgent. A clear number one in goal provides stability for any football team, and Eintracht has been lacking this for nearly two years. The new coach, Adi Hütter, has also recognized this pressing need.