The Bundesliga’s most underrated gem? He could end his club’s long wait

For SC Freiburg, this Sunday’s match against Borussia Dortmund is a true trauma game. In the last seven encounters with the Black and Yellows, they suffered seven defeats – with a devastating goal difference of 6:28. No other team beats the Breisgau club so often!

The hope that this horror record will end this weekend mainly rests on one name. And this name was barely known to anyone twelve months ago: Johan Manzambi.

The 20-year-old is not just a nice bonus in Freiburg's offensive play this season. He is rather the player who makes the difference. With six scorer points in the Bundesliga (three goals, three assists), he is Julian Schuster's most dangerous man, with nine goal involvements in 20 competitive matches across all competitions.

A truly rapid rise

These are undoubtedly top stats. However, it becomes even more impressive when you consider his meteoric development. A year ago, he was playing in the Regionalliga Südwest with a market value of 750,000 euros. In the entire Bundesliga season 2024/25, he accumulated a mere 333 minutes.

Just a few months later, he is valued at 15 million euros according to transfermarkt.de, ranks among the fastest-growing players in value across Europe, and is considered one of the hottest prospects in the Bundesliga youth, alongside hyped names like Lennart Karl or Said El Mala. 

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Since Manzambi moved from the Swiss club FC Servette to Freiburg's U19 in January 2023, he has rapidly climbed every level. He moved up from the second team to the Bundesliga, making his debut in September 2024.

A mix of dynamism, creativity, ball control, and incredible versatility – he can play anything from central midfield to a supporting striker – currently makes Manzambi one of the most exciting players in Germany.

No wonder clubs like Bayer Leverkusen and SSC Napoli have already taken notice of him, according to 'Bild'. Equally interesting: Borussia Dortmund reportedly made inquiries in the summer, as revealed by the portal 'Absolut Fußball'.

The perfect BVB transfer?

It’s hardly surprising that the top club from the Ruhr area has shown interest. Manzambi is exactly the type of player that has symbolized BVB for many years.

He is young, highly talented, capable of development, full of energy, and possesses a potential resale value that would have made every scout in Dortmund nervous with excitement.

The development of raw talents like Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho, or Jude Bellingham was the clear identity of BVB for almost a decade. The black and yellow motto was: We find talents, develop them, and make a fortune with them.

However, this path has noticeably changed in the last two to three years. Young players with great potential have become rare in the squad. Karim Adeyemi or Felix Nmecha could be such players but are still struggling with form fluctuations.

And while they used to develop young talents en masse, the door seems to be closing at the moment. Jamie Gittens became a victim of the system last season and was eventually sold in the summer. Now Julien Duranville is experiencing something similar. Niko Kovač recently stated succinctly: "The others are better." Even if this statement may be true, it reveals a lot about the current priorities of the Westphalians.

Instead of relying on young developing players, BVB is currently unusually focused on experienced forces. Players like Gregor Kobel (28), Waldemar Anton (29), Nico Schlotterbeck (26), Marcel Sabitzer (31), Julian Brandt (29), and Serhou Guirassy (29) form the backbone of the team.

These are all top players, but not talents that bring back the old Dortmund feeling. No wonder many fans long for those exciting, unpredictable, electrifying youngsters who put their stamp on the game week after week.

The big stage calls!

And then there’s Manzambi, who embodies exactly this spirit. A player who boldly demands the ball, sees spaces that others can’t even imagine, and can decide games single-handedly at a young age. One who would have fit fantastically into Dortmund's attacking midfield – especially since Dortmund's attacking play sometimes appears a bit one-dimensional. In short: a classic "old BVB transfer".

On Sunday, Manzambi can show Dortmund live what they missed and how valuable it can be to continue betting on youth. Freiburg relies on him, gives him responsibility, and lets him grow. 

And who knows? Maybe a strong performance will reignite interest. Perhaps Borussia will then see that players like Manzambi are not only good for Freiburg but also for a top club like their own. A club that is currently somewhat searching for its clear identity.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

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