Official: Osterhage switches to Freiburg

Germany U21 international Patrick Osterhage has completed his rumored move from VfL Bochum to SC Freiburg. The 24-year-old will suit up for the Breisgauer next season. As is common with the SCF, the length of the player's new contact was not disclosed. Bochum have received a transfer fee for the highest-valued player (€7 million) on their roster. After Werder's Era Dinkçi, Osterhage is the southern Baden's second signing secured for the 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign.

 At present, the amount Freiburg have played for Osterhage remains unclear. Germany's Kicker Magazine reports that Bochum received a transfer fee in the low-single-digit million-range whereas the VfL's "Tief im Western" Magazine claims that Osterhage was only available to another club via an exit clause totaling €5 million.

Freiburg have procured a replacement for the soon-to-depart Yannik Keitel. Given that Osterhage is widely regarded to be one of the best current young German midfield prospects, It stands to reason that he will earn starts over Freiburg's current double-sixes Maximilian Eggestein and Nicolas Höfler.

"We have been looking at Patrick for several years," SCF personnel chief Klemens Hartenbach noted in a statement accompanying the signing, "He can play various positions in the central midfield and we are convinced of his enormous potential."

"I am also convinced that this is the right step for me personally," Osterhage himself added, "I'm looking forward to giving it my all here from the summer onwards. and playing in the new Freiburg stadium. My focus will naturally fully remain on VfL Bochum in the coming weeks."