Werder signs Hein firmly
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SC Freiburg has secured the services of Mio Backhaus and thus found a successor for Noah Atubolu, who is likely to leave the club. According to media reports, the Breisgauers will pay a transfer fee of 15 million euros including bonus payments to Werder Bremen – a record fee for the SCF. The 22-year-old goalkeeper signs a contract with the Europa League finalists until 2031.
Backhaus has completed his first Bundesliga season as a starting goalkeeper after Michael Zetterer left Werder for Frankfurt on August 20th. The U21 national goalkeeper, who has been through the Green-Whites’ youth teams since 2018, was one of the bright spots in a weak season. In 32 games he kept five clean sheets and had to go behind 56 times. His market value climbed from 2 million to 12 million euros – only two German keepers are more valuable. In the market value update on May 27th it goes up again.
“Mio has impressively demonstrated in his first Bundesliga season the high level he can play at. His calm and concentrated manner can be infectious,” said sports director Jochen Saier. “He serves all facets of the goalkeeper game, has a lot of development potential and will also fit very well into our team as a person. With Mio we will continue to have a great goalkeeper trio in the future.”
The Mönchengladbach native replaces Ritsu Doan as the most expensive transfer in Freiburg’s history. The Japanese offensive player came from PSV Eindhoven in 2022 for 10.4 million euros. When it comes to the most expensive Werder departures, Backhaus is tied with Miroslav Klose in fifth place – provided all bonus payments come into effect – who moved to FC Bayern in 2007 for 15 million euros.
In another statistic, Backhaus now occupies a place on the podium: The most expensive German goalkeepers. In front of him are only Manuel Neuer, who went to FC Bayern for 30 million euros in 2011, and Bernd Leno, for whom Arsenal paid 25 million euros to Bayer Leverkusen in 2018. Backhaus will probably only hold the podium place temporarily, as his predecessor Atubolu is expected to overtake him shortly. The most valuable German keeper, with a market value of 20 million euros, is toying with the Premier League.
Backhaus added: “A door has opened where I have the feeling that I fit right in. The overall package of the people I spoke to here, the city, the stadium and the football that is played in Freiburg led to this decision. I want to achieve something with the team and am looking forward to the sports club.”
Werder signs Hein firmly
The successor to Backhaus in Bremen is probably also dry. Arsenal loanee Karl Hein, who represented him twice last season with strong performances, has been permanently signed. The 24-year-old Estonian’s loan contract includes a purchase option worth €3 million, which Werder has activated. He should inherit Backhaus as number one.
“Mio’s move is not easy for us, both from a sporting and personal perspective. Mio played an impressive first Bundesliga season and is also someone in the dressing room whose character has provided absolute added value. However, SC Freiburg has made an offer that is both highly attractive for Mio in terms of sport and extremely lucrative for us economically, so that all parties can look positively on the move. We wish Mio only the best for his future,” explained Managing Director Football Clemens Fritz. “Karl already proved last season that he is a goalkeeper at the top level. We are therefore pleased that we will also be starting the season with a strong number 1 next season.”