Brighton add Atubolu to goalkeeper shortlist
Noah Atubolu is now part of Brighton’s thinking for next season. The SC Freiburg goalkeeper and Epic Sports client is on Brighton’s shortlist as the club plan for a possible change in goal, although he is not currently understood to be their top option, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg. The expectation is that Atubolu has a good chance of leaving Freiburg this summer, or at the latest in 2027 when his contract expires.
That does not make this an advanced transfer yet. There is no sign of a done deal at this stage. But it does show Brighton are preparing ahead, and Atubolu has clearly entered the frame as a serious candidate rather than just background scouting noise.
Why Atubolu is attracting this level of attention
The profile makes sense. Atubolu is 23, Freiburg’s number one, German-Nigerian, and already established in the Bundesliga. He has 29 Bundesliga appearances this season and has developed a growing reputation as one of the more impressive young goalkeepers in Germany.
According to Flashscore stats, it adds another layer to that picture. It shows Atubolu with a 6.8 rating in the Bundesliga this season, 29 appearances, a 65.7% save rate, six clean sheets and one yellow card. For a 23-year-old goalkeeper in one of Europe’s top leagues, that is exactly the kind of profile that tends to move a player onto Premier League shortlists.
Player profile
Atubolu was born in Freiburg and came through the local pathway before establishing himself at SC Freiburg. He is 1.90m tall, right-footed, and under contract until 30 June 2027.
He also brings more than just raw potential. Atubolu has already built up strong top-flight experience, set a Freiburg Bundesliga shutout record, and shown real penalty-saving pedigree. That is why Brighton’s interest feels logical rather than random. If Bart Verbruggen does leave, they would be looking at a goalkeeper who is young enough to develop but already tested at a serious level.
The agency behind the story – Ali Barat and Epic Sports
Atubolu is represented by Epic Sports, the agency led by Ali Barat. Epic Sports have built a strong reputation as a boutique elite-level firm operating around major European deals and high-end talent management. Ali Barat won Golden Boy Best Agent award.
Epic Sports have also partnered with Deloitte Private to launch a specialist Multi-Family Office for athletes.
That gives this story an added agency angle too. If Atubolu is genuinely heading toward a summer decision, Ali Barat and Epic Sports will be central to it. Brighton may only have him high on the shortlist for now, but the combination of Premier League interest, contract timing and agency backing makes this one worth watching.
