Doan could be set for a promising move in the Bundesliga

Ritsu Doan's potential move to Eintracht Frankfurt continues to generate considerable buzz in the German football landscape, with negotiations currently centered around Freiburg’s asking price for the Japanese international.

Three years ago, SC Freiburg paid nearly nine million euros to PSV Eindhoven to bring Doan to the Bundesliga. According to Kicker and Bild, they inserted a release clause into his contract worth close to three times that amount approximately €27 million a figure that now stands at the heart of ongoing discussions between the two German clubs.

While Freiburg are reportedly willing to lower their demands slightly, with a price tag just north of €20 million deemed acceptable, Eintracht Frankfurt remain reluctant to match even that revised valuation. This stance comes despite a recent financial windfall from the high-profile sale of French striker Hugo Ekitiké, who completed a €95 million transfer to Liverpool. The club's management insists on sticking to a strict internal transfer policy, having already calculated what they believe to be a fair market value for Doan based on age, performance, and contract status.

This financial caution, however, hasn’t prevented Eintracht from acting swiftly on the sporting side. While talks with Freiburg continue, the club has already secured personal terms with Doan himself. The Japanese attacker is said to have agreed to a five-year contract with the Eagles, underlining his desire to make the switch to Frankfurt. His commitment signals a belief in the project being built at Eintracht and a willingness to take the next step in his career by competing at the highest level.

For Doan, who has shown consistent growth in the Bundesliga with Freiburg and previously at Arminia Bielefeld (on loan from PSV), the move would represent not just a financial or professional upgrade but also a sporting promotion. Freiburg will be competing in the Europa League again this season, but Eintracht have secured a spot in the UEFA Champions League a stage that remains the ultimate ambition for many players. A switch to Frankfurt would allow Doan to test himself against Europe’s elite while continuing to develop under a club known for nurturing attacking talent.

Eintracht, for their part, view Doan as an ideal piece to complement their evolving attacking structure. With the departures of key offensive players, including Ekitiké, the club has already brought in Love Arrhov, the highly rated Swedish talent, and Jonathan Burkardt from Mainz. Both arrivals are expected to add energy and depth to the front line, but the addition of a technically gifted, tactically intelligent winger like Doan would round out the offensive trio and offer coach Dino Toppmöller multiple options in wide and central roles.

The club’s recruitment department values Doan’s ability to operate on either flank, his work rate in pressing systems, and his knack for scoring key goals attributes that have made him one of Freiburg’s most reliable players over the last two seasons. In 2023/24, he contributed several crucial goals in both Bundesliga and European competition and continued to demonstrate the kind of consistency and maturity that have made him a regular in the Japanese national team.

Nevertheless, the final hurdle remains the transfer fee. Eintracht’s refusal to be drawn into a bidding war or pay what they deem an inflated price has so far prevented the deal from being finalized. Negotiations are expected to continue over the coming days, with both clubs under pressure to reach a conclusion before the new Bundesliga season kicks off.

Within the Eintracht camp, there is optimism that a deal will ultimately be struck. Sources close to the negotiations suggest that Freiburg, despite their firm public stance, may be willing to negotiate a structure that includes performance-based bonuses or a sell-on clause to make the deal more palatable for Frankfurt. The desire of the player to move could also be a decisive factor in pushing Freiburg to lower their demands.

Should the deal go through, it would not only mark another step forward in Doan’s steady rise through European football but also signal Eintracht Frankfurt’s growing ambition and strategic planning. With Champions League football on the horizon, a reinforced attack led by the likes of Arrhov, Burkardt, and potentially Doan could make the Eagles one of the most exciting teams to watch in the Bundesliga this season.