Everton target Merlin Rohl in a Blues shirt, David Moyes in inset.
Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media/Imago
Declan Carr
Mon 1 September 2025 10:37, UK
Everton are pushing to sign Martin Rohl from German club Freiburg.
The 23-year-old has emerged as a key target for the Hill Dickinson Stadium outfit on what could be a very busy deadline day, with .
David Moyes wants to bring two additions into his Everton squad, but he is facing a race against time, with the window closing at 19:00 pm on 1 September.
Rohl would be a great signing as the Toffees are currently lacking bodies in the engine room.
Everton's new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock
Credit: Imago
Why do Everton want to sign Merlin Rohl?
Everton are moving quickly to secure Rohl’s signature, the midfielder is reportedly already on Merseyside ahead of a transfer.
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Respected Blues reporter Alan Myers has revealed the reasons that the Toffees want to sign the Germany Under-21 international, who has previously been described as a “wizard” by the official Bundesliga website
Speaking live on Sky Sports (9:40 am), he said: “We have seen quite a bit of speculation about Merlin Rohl from Freiburg, he is a central midfielder.
“That is an area that Everton want to bolster, don’t forget they will lose Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye, when the AFCON tournament is taking place in December, so there are areas that need filling.
“Everton and the new owners will try and do that, Merlin Rohl, he played last night, for 45 minutes, coming at half-time against Cologne.
“He is a central defensive midfielder, something that would tick a box, he is 23, played around 47 games for Freiburg.
“That is one we are going to watch, some suggestions he is already on Merseyside, we’re not sure whether that is true or not.”
Idrissa Gueye
Credit: Imago
Merlin Rohl would be a perfect addition for Everton
As Myers states, a new midfielder is crucial due to Gueye’s absence during the AFCON tournament, which could see him miss up to seven matches in the tricky festive period.
If Senegal get to the final, then he will miss five matches, but he would likely miss the clash with Arsenal beforehand and the Leeds United contest afterwards.
Those matches could be crucial in Moyes’ attempts to qualify for European competition, so the Blues need an extra body.
Rohl has made 48 Bundesliga appearances so far in his career
Notched two goals and six assists in those matches
Has been capped 13-times by Germany Under-21 national team
The likes of Everton academy graduate Harrison Armstrong and Tim Iroegbunam are amongst the current options to replace Gueye, but they are inexperienced, and their development would be better served by spending time out on loan.
If they can get Rohl in before the deadline, it would be a masterstroke from the Friedkin Group, considering the fact that Gueye will potentially miss such a crucial period of the campaign.
It would be an added bonus if they could get a right-back and a centre-back in, but Rohl’s signature is the most important, with such a limited amount of time to get deals completed.
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