Striker swaps Frankfurt for Freiburg

Igor Matanović will wear the number 31 shirt at Freiburg, who have been bolstering their attack this summer, having also signed wingers Derry Scherhant and Cyriaque Irié, plus attacking midfielder Yuito Suzuki.

“Igor has a really exciting profile. He’s alert, physical and provides a goal threat. He also shows he’s willing to work for the team,” said managing director Sochen Saier.

“We’ve proven in the past that we can initiate the next development steps with the player and a little patience, realising the undoubtedly great potential,” he added.

The 6’4’’ striker was born in Hamburg and came through the youth system at St. Pauli, making his senior debut aged 17 in Bundesliga 2 in November 2020, before a summer 2021 transfer to Frankfurt. He was immediately loaned back to the Boys in Brown for two seasons, scoring just three goals in 57 competitive appearances over his spells at the Millerntor.

His 2023/24 loan at Karlsruhe was far more productive with 14 goals and five assists in 32 Bundesliga 2 games. Injuries and the form of Omar Marmoush and then Hugo Ekitiké limited the 22-year-old to just two starts across 16 Bundesliga appearances last season, scoring once. He got two goals in 25 competitive outings.

“I’m really happy that it [the move] worked out,” said Matanović. “Freiburg seems authentic, familiar and ambitious to me. That's exactly how I would describe myself. That's why I'm convinced that we’ll harmonise very well. I can hardly wait to train with the guys.”

Matanović has eight youth caps for Germany but has represented Croatia since U21 level and made his senior debut in 2024, scoring his only goal in five caps against Scotland in the UEFA Nations League.

Julian Schuster’s Freiburg kick off their season at Sportfreunde Lotte in the first round of the DFB Cup on 16 August. Their Bundesliga campaign starts at home to Augsburg seven days later.