“Big potential”
Noel Futkeu (20) is the outstanding scorer in the Oberliga Niederrhein. Now the Schwarz-Weiss Essen striker, who was also trained by Rot-Weiss in his native city, will continue his career at Eintracht Frankfurt. The Hessians announced the signing of the former Cologne reserve player for the U21 team and highlighted Futkeu’s “great potential”.
“In Noel Futkeu we were able to recruit one of the outstanding Oberliga attackers who was being courted by numerous clubs. Ultimately, however, he decided in favor of Eintracht and the path we had pointed out,” explains Alexander Richter, head of the SGE’s youth academy. The “Adlerträger” are cautious about the prospect of making the step to the Eintracht professional team. The second team, which was only registered again this season, is the “perfect platform” for the best possible development, according to Richter. Futkeu has 31 goals and seven assists in 32 competitive games for Schwarz-Weiß Essen this season. With 29 Oberliga goals, the Essener with Cameroonian roots leads the list of goalscorers in the Lower Rhine season.
1. FC Magdeburg, which was also previously mentioned as a concrete interested party and whose juniors are also facing promotion – but only to the Oberliga, is likely to be among the clubs against which Frankfurt prevailed. The Frankfurt U21s are currently on their way to the regional league if FCM had a better chance of getting into the first team. Ex-club Rot-Weiss Essen, which is fighting to stay up in the 3rd division, is said to have been a possible buyer. The Frankfurt way seems to allow Futkeu to play bigger games. The contract is initially valid until 2026.
Eintracht Frankfurt have secured the services of Noel Futkeu. The 20-year-old attacker is moving from Schwarz-Weiß Essen to the Main for the 2023/24 season on a free transfer.
Goodness, Noel! #SGE | #sgeU21 https://t.co/qkmU5XrMPd
— Eintracht Frankfurt NLZ (@eintracht_lz) May 1, 2023
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