Kicker Report: Maximilian Philipp set for return to Freiburg
Germany's preeminent footballing publication reports that VfL Wolfsburg attacker Maximilian Philipp is on the verge of a transfer back to his old club SC Freiburg.
Attacking midfielder Maximilian Philipp looks to be headed back to Breisgau, according to journalists Thomas Hiete and Thiemo Müller of Germany's Kicker Magazine. The 29-year-old was initially developed at the SC Freiburg youth academy after joining from Energie Cottbus in 2014. Philipp represented the SCF for four years before moving to Dortmund on a then blockbuster €20 million transfer ahead of the 2017/18 campaign.
The Berlin-native's stint at Dortmund didn't work out as planned and he was eventually sold to Dynamo Moscow. Philipp returned to German football with VfL Wolfsburg during the 2020/21 campaign, but eventually fell into disuse. He was loaned out to SV Werder Bremen during the second half of last season. Hiete and Müller note that talks - presumably over a permanent move to Freiburg - are "well advanced".
All told, Philipp has scored 28 Bundesliga goals in 152 appearances for Freiburg, Dortmund, Wolfsburg, and Bremen. His current estimated market worth lies at €2 million; an all-time career low. Philipp nevertheless did fill in as a lead-striker reasonably well for Bremen last year and even scored once. He scored 18 goals and bagged 17 assists during his time at Freiburg.