Freiberg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu has been linked to West Ham [credit: Bundesliga]
Freiberg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu has been linked to West Ham [credit: Bundesliga]

West Ham won't have fond memories of Noah Atubolu after what happened v Freiberg

Max Wilkins

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior sports journalist with experience at GRV Media and VAVEL; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Exclusive content, statistical analysis, and deep-dive reporting across the Breaking Media network. THE INSIGHT Max utilises a network of club and industry contacts to deliver verified, exclusive reporting and data-driven insight. He provides the intelligence behind the stories to ensure fans get the full picture.

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West Ham fans won't remember transfer target Noah Atubolu fondly after he conceded five for Freiberg in the Europa League.

Fabrizio Romano has reported (17 December) that the Hammers are in the hunt for the Germany Under-21 international keeper.

The 22-year-old could represent a successor to Lukasz Fabianski and Alphonse Areola as the number one shot-stopper for the East London club.

Irons supporters may recognise the goalkeeper after he conceded five for the Bundesliga side in the Europa League round of 16 in March 2024.

West Ham won't have fond memories of transfer target Noah Atubolu

David Moyes' side came into the European knockout clash against Freiberg 1-0 down on aggregate but turned things around with an excellent 5-0 victory.

It was Lucas Paqueta who got the scoring underway as he snuck in around the back to tap home a Tomas Soucek flick-on.

The keeper for the away side was caught out and looked extremely flatfooted as the Brazil international was able to score without competition.

Noah Atubolu
Noah Atubolu for Freiberg [credit: West Ham United on YouTube]

The German shot-stopper didn't cover himself with glory as the game went on, hardly making an attempt to save the ball as Aaron Cresswell wrapped home a third goal for the Irons.

Atubolu had one hand on the floor as the left-backs effort curled into the bottom corner in another moment that the keeper will want to forget.

Noah Atubolu for Freiberg [credit: West Ham United on YouTube]
Noah Atubolu for Freiberg [credit: West Ham United on YouTube]

This continued as the game went on, and the Freiberg man could only stick out a leg as Mohammed Kudus netted his Puskas Award-nominated solo effort.

The Under-21 international went down far too early which ultimately made it easy for the ex-Ajax man to find the bottom corner.

Noah Atubolu
Noah Atubolu for Freiberg [credit: West Ham United on YouTube]

In the end, the 22-year-old conceded five goals while only making two saves, saving just 28 per cent of the Hammers' efforts on target [FotMob].

His 38 per cent long pass accuracy on the night won't impress Julen Lopetegui either which could scupper a potential January move to the Premier League.

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