Credit: Imago

Josh Edwards

Thu 19 March 2026 15:10, UK

Noah Atubolu has decided that the Premier League is his next destination, amid links with West Ham United.

The 23-year-old German goalkeeper has had a fine campaign with Freiburg, though his form in the Bundesliga hasn’t gone unnoticed, with several clubs having expressed an interest.

West Ham are one of them, with the Hammers likely to be on the lookout for a new goalkeeper in the event that Alphonse Areola leaves, with Mads Hermansen having recently taken back his number one shirt under Nuno Espirito Santo.

A report from Bild states that Atubolu wants the Premier League to be his next destination, which could place the Irons in good standing.

West Ham have plenty of recruitment to do in the summer, but the German could prove to be one of their first signings.

Noah Atubolu season examined

Despite being just 23 years old, Atubolu has been a regular for Freiburg since 2023.

In that time, the German has made 111 appearances across all competitions, but it is his stats from the current campaign that have earned him the interest.

Atubolu has saved 64.2 per cent of the shots he has faced in the Bundesliga, while also having prevented 0.58 goals.

His completed pass tally of 674 places him in the top 25 per cent of goalkeepers in the German top flight, as does his average of one high claim per game.

What would this mean for Mads Hermansen?

Mads Hermansen endured a nightmare at the start of the campaign, but his return to the team has always come with a return to form.

Nuno’s faith in him has paid off, with the Dane now well and truly their first-choice goalkeeper.

However, should a deal for Atubolu be pursued, then it’s almost certain that he would want to take that role from him, and while his stats showcase he may be an improvement, it would be a tough decision to make.

If he were to make the move, it’s likely that he would have to compete for a starting role, just as Hermansen and Areola have done so far this season.