"Rarely seen in a player": How a Bundesliga rising star became a transfer target for Bayern Munich

It may seem odd, given that the 20-year-old has plied his trade in midfield for some time. Yet Manzambi once harboured ambitions to be a goalkeeper, idolising Manuel Neuer. “Fortunately for Switzerland, his father and brother talked him out of it,” noted Zurich’s Tages-Anzeiger last October.

By that point the Geneva-born forward had already played seven of his ten senior internationals for the Nati, scoring three goals before his 20th birthday. Four weeks earlier he had also netted against Sweden after a brief substitute appearance. “He has an incredible instinct for goal; I’ve rarely seen that in a player,” said national coach Murat Yakin.

Yakin first called him up after last season, when Manzambi needed only eleven games—his first at professional level—to establish himself as a key performer for the Breisgau side. He contributed four goals, helping the club reach the decisive Matchday 34 showdown with Frankfurt for a Champions League spot, a contest they would ultimately lose.

Just two and a half weeks after Manzambi made his senior debut for Switzerland in June 2025, he put pen to paper on a new Freiburg deal running until 2030. The club, acting swiftly to safeguard his rising transfer value, had little choice but to secure his services early. As sporting director Jochen Saier explained: “Johan’s development has continued unabated – that is exceptional in this context.”

Saier’s assessment still holds true today. Manzambi has blossomed into a key component of the Freiburg team and is now undoubtedly the squad’s most valuable outfield player. He has played 40 competitive matches so far, with manager Julian Schuster selecting him for the starting line-up on 36 occasions. His statistics read six goals and seven assists.

He exemplifies Freiburg’s renowned youth-development model, a strategy that earns the club wide respect—and more than a little envy—across German football. Head of youth scouting Christoph Wetzel-Veilandics recommended the signing from Servette Geneva’s U18s in January 2023, and Manzambi quickly moved through Freiburg’s U19s and second team before making his inevitable senior bow.

As Schuster puts it, Manzambi brings “a great all-round package” to the table. He quickly made an impression in senior football with his positive attitude and healthy self-belief. Manzambi plays with courage, is creative and a threat in front of goal; his nimble footwork makes him a superb dribbler, and he brings great dynamism, covering a lot of ground. His game recalls that of Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha.

He also works with a mental coach to keep a “clear head”, and his game is further enhanced by strong running and robust tackling. “I’m basically an eight, a box-to-box player,” he says, “but I can also operate on the wing or as a ten.”

That adaptability stems from his years at Servette, where he played almost every position, even as a No. 9. SC Freiburg is leveraging that versatility, deploying him across several roles.

He still has the most to learn in the role of the more attacking half of a central midfield pairing. He occasionally lacks the right balance and the necessary decisiveness in one-on-one situations. Surprisingly, given those shortcomings, his disciplinary record in this Bundesliga season is striking: he sits second behind Mainz’s Dominik Kohr with four yellow cards and two somewhat unfortunate red cards.

Nevertheless, his ability to change games has already attracted interest from Europe’s heavyweights. Mid-March reports in the Swiss paper Blick linked him to FC Bayern Munich, potentially as a replacement for Leon Goretzka, and Paris Saint-Germain. Since then, the usual English suitors have also been mentioned.

With his contract still long and his transfer fee open to negotiation, it would take a surprise for him to avoid becoming Freiburg’s record sale. That honour currently belongs to Kevin Schade, sold to Brentford for €25 million in summer 2023, and will soon be matched by Merlin Röhl, whose move to Everton carries the same mandatory buyout fee.

Sky reports that Freiburg value Manzambi at more than €30 million. In late September, SCF CEO Saier told kicker: “We extended Johan’s contract only a few months ago, on a long-term basis, to ensure a clear shared path forward.”

Manzambi himself recently had only a stock phrase to offer: "I’m focused on Freiburg and the World Cup with Switzerland." With the Breisgau side, he could soon appear on a bigger stage in two finals – in the DFB Cup and the Europa League. Then comes the World Cup and, given his profile, a transfer window that is bound to be exciting.

“My long-term goal is to win the Champions League,” he told Freiburg’s club media during a Q&A. To accelerate that journey, two routes present themselves: lifting the European Cup with the club or commanding a hefty transfer fee for them.

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