Freiburg's upheaval: Steuerwald and Karich also leave - Bienz comes

Leaving Freiburg: Samantha Steuerwald and Annie Karich. IMAGO/DeFodi Images

Next Sunday, things are likely to be emotional at the Dreisamstadion. The sports club will bid farewell not only to coach Theresa Merk , who has been on the bench for the Breisgau team 54 times in the Bundesliga and led the club to the cup final for the first time in 2023, but also to nine players.

This was also the case for Samantha Steuerwald , who joined Freiburg from Werder Bremen in the summer of 2020 and played her 100th league game for Freiburg last weekend in a 0-0 draw with Essen. "At SC Freiburg, I was able to grow, learn, and develop into a seasoned Bundesliga player," said the 26-year-old. "I am very grateful for all the people who have accompanied and supported me along the way – on and off the pitch," said Steuerwald.

Midfielder Annie Karich , who has been with Freiburg since January 2024 and has made 32 Bundesliga appearances since then, will also no longer play for the Sport-Club, as the club announced on Monday. Furthermore, there is no future in Freiburg for goalkeeper Julia Kassen (5 matches) and striker Eileen Campbell (22 matches, 4 goals), who, according to a report in the Kronen Zeitung , has been linked with newly promoted Union Berlin.

It was already clear that Annabel Schasching would move to RB Leipzig and Cora Zicai to VfL Wolfsburg , Lena Nuding and Hasret Kayikci would end their careers and Rafaela Borggräfe would leave the Breisgau team .

"I would like to thank everyone who will be leaving our club this summer. Each one has taken on an important role in our team," said Birgit Bauer-Schick, SC head of women's and girls' football.

On Tuesday, however, there was also some activity on the Freiburg side: Swiss international Alena Bienz (22) is moving from 1. FC Köln to SC Freiburg. Bienz came to the Rhine from FC Luzern in 2022. The versatile midfielder has made 53 league and DFB Cup appearances for Effzeh. The 22-year-old, who can also play as a second striker, has a good chance of securing a spot at the home European Championship.

"I've always perceived SC Freiburg as very down-to-earth yet ambitious – that's exactly what makes Freiburg the ideal place for me to develop further and take the next step in my career," says Bienz. She expands the Swiss squad to four players – alongside Svenja Fölmli, Leela Egli, and Julia Stierli.