SC Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu has candidly addressed the racism he has faced in the Bundesliga due to his Nigerian roots, Soccernet.ng reports.
Born and raised in Freiburg to parents of Nigerian descent, the 22-year-old has represented Germany at U17, U19, and U21 levels, even earning the Fritz Walter Medal U19 Bronze in 2021.
However, despite his undeniable talent and comparisons to legendary German keeper Manuel Neuer, Atubolu has endured hateful comments, including from sections of Freiburg’s own fanbase.
After an error in Freiburg’s match against Holstein Kiel, which nearly led to a draw, Atubolu redeemed himself with a spectacular save in injury time, ensuring a 3-2 victory.
Yet, moments like these haven’t shielded the young goalkeeper, who has attracted interest from West Ham this winter, from criticism. The backlash escalated following Freiburg’s 0-3 defeat to FC St. Pauli on matchday five, where Atubolu was targeted on social media after his error led to him conceding a late goal.
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Freiburg captain Christian Günter strongly defended the young goalkeeper, emphasizing his talent and work ethic.
“You can criticize things, that’s completely fine. But sometimes it goes below the belt,” Günter said.
“We have a very talented goalkeeper who is reflective and knows when he has made mistakes. He works very hard.”
Atubolu, however, remains largely detached from the noise of social media.
Speaking to Kicker, he said, “I’m not someone who is constantly on social media.”
While he acknowledged feeling “extremely annoyed” that his captain had to address the hate comments, he admitted that racism has been a recurring challenge in his career.
“I also feel that my skin colour has not made things easier for me with some fans,” he stated. “I’m afraid that will never stop in football, sadly.”
Despite these challenges, Atubolu has been a standout performer this season, starting 15 of Freiburg’s 17 Bundesliga games and keeping four clean sheets.
His athleticism and determination were on display when he set a season sprint record of 32.5 km/h during the dramatic win over Holstein Kiel.
A product of Freiburg’s youth system, Atubolu has made 49 Bundesliga appearances since debuting in August 2023, solidifying his position as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.