Merlin Röhl
German footballer (born 2002)
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Merlin Röhl (born 5 July 2002) is a German professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Everton, on loan from SC Freiburg.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 5 July 2002 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Potsdam, Germany | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Central midfielder | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team |
Everton (on loan from SC Freiburg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 34 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| –2018 | SV Babelsberg 03 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2020 | FC Ingolstadt | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2020–2022 | FC Ingolstadt | 49 | (4) | ||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | FC Ingolstadt II | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | SC Freiburg II | 12 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2022– | SC Freiburg | 48 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 2025– | → Everton (loan) | 11 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Germany U18 | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Germany U19 | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2021–2023 | Germany U20 | 9 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2023–2025 | Germany U21 | 13 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:30, 14 March 2026 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||
Early life
Club career
Röhl started his youth career at SV Babelsberg 03, but moved to FC Ingolstadt in 2018 having had a trial spell at the club after sharing his performance data through the app Tonsser.[3][2] He signed a long-term contract with the club in January 2020.[4]
Röhl made his debut for FC Ingolstadt on 25 November 2020, starting in a 3–1 3. Liga win away to Bayern Munich II.[2][5] He scored his first senior goal on 16 December 2020 with a right-footed volley in the 37th minute of a 1–0 league victory over Hansa Rostock.[6][7]
On 17 August 2022, Röhl signed with SC Freiburg in Bundesliga.[8]
Röhl moved to Premier League side Everton on a season-long loan on 1 September 2025, the last day of the summer transfer window.[9] A purchase obligation will apply if Everton remains in the league, in which case the transfer fee would reportedly amount to €25 million including possible bonuses.[9]
International career
Röhl has represented Germany at both under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels as well.[1]
Style of play
A tall, versatile and technically gifted midfielder, Röhl has also played at left-back. His playing style and physical stature has earned him comparisons to Leon Goretzka.[10]
Career statistics
- As of match played 18 January 2026
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| FC Ingolstadt | 2020–21[11] | 3. Liga | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 0 | 21 | 1 | |
| 2021–22[12] | 2. Bundesliga | 26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 1 | |||
| 2022–23[13] | 3. Liga | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 2 | |||
| Total | 49 | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 55 | 4 | |||
| FC Ingolstadt II | 2020–21[citation needed] | Bayernliga | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| SC Freiburg II | 2022–23[13] | 3. Liga | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| SC Freiburg | 2022–23[13] | Bundesliga | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | |
| 2023–24[14] | Bundesliga | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8[c] | 1 | — | 34 | 3 | ||
| 2024–25[15] | Bundesliga | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 | |||
| 2025–26[16] | Bundesliga | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| Total | 48 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | 60 | 3 | |||
| Everton (loan) | 2025–26[17] | Premier League | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Career total | 120 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 139 | 7 | ||
- Appearances in 3. Liga promotion play-offs
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
Honours
Germany U21
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship runner-up: 2025[18]
