Everton profit from ‘external factors’ as new Merlin Rohl transfer admission made
Merlin Rohl is expected to play a role primarily off the bench for David Moyes’ Everton side this season.
Everton signed Rohl on loan from SC Freiburg on transfer deadline day, with the deal containing an obligation to buy next summer.
The German’s arrival marked the end of the Toffees’ busy summer window, with eight other players arriving to bolster Moyes’ options.
Rohl made his Everton debut against Aston Villa on 13 September, and looked impressive off the bench as he played in a deeper role alongside Idrissa Gueye.
Moyes left Rohl out against Liverpool, however, with the manager later explaining that the German was struggling with a slight issue.
SC Freiburg reluctantly let Merlin Rohl go to Everton
Freiburg manager Julian Schuster was caught unaware by Rohl’s move to Everton, but the German accepted that a certain fee would have been enough to see the 23-year-old leave.
The midfielder had been with the German club for three years, since signing from FC Ingolstadt in 2022.
But injury issues plagued Rohl during his time at Freiburg, with last season seeing the German appear in just 19 Bundesliga games amid ligament and heel problems.
Still, the Berlin-born talent had established himself as one for the future, featuring for Germany Under-21s at the Euros this past summer.
| Merlin Rohl | Vs Aston Villa (H) |
| Minutes played | 24 |
| Accurate passes | 7 |
| Chances created | 1 |
| Shots | 1 |
| Passes into final third | 4 |
| Tackles | 2 |
| Duels won | 5 |
And the Freiburg sporting director has now admitted that “external factors” contributed towards the club’s decision to sell Rohl to Everton.
“There were external factors such as injuries and illness,” Jochen Saier told Kicker on Sunday.
“For which Merlin cannot be blamed and which we have to accept. After his return in the second half of the season, things went well for the team, and it wasn’t easy for him to get into the starting line up.”
Saier also explained that Rohl was “keen to take this exciting step”, with Freiburg willing to sanction the deal once the conditions were right for them.
Merlin Rohl can lead German influx at Everton
In a fact that sounds almost unbelievable, Rohl is just the fourth German to ever appear in a competitive match for Everton.
And in all likelihood, the midfielder will become the first German to make 10 or more appearances for the Toffees, with Thomas Hitzlsperger, who made nine, currently holding the record.
- Thomas Hitzlsperger signed for Everton on a free transfer in 2012, making nine appearances in one season.
- Stefan Wessels signed from FC Koln in 2007 and made seven appearances before leaving for Vfl Osnabruck.
- Shkodran Mustafi spent time in the Everton academy and would make just one appearance in 2009, later signing for Arsenal.
Despite the long and successful history of players making the switch from the Bundesliga to the Premier League, the league can still often feel like an untapped market.
But with decision-makers at the Hill Dickinson Stadium already getting their first tastes with the signings of Adam Aznou and Rohl, Everton could look to explore such acquisitions more frequently.
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