Jule Brand and Merle Frohms will be leaving VfL Wolfsburg at the end of the season, as confirmed by the club. The duo, both significant figures within the team, will not be renewing their expiring contracts, prompting speculation about their next career moves. Brand, 22, has been at the center of attention, reportedly drawing interest from top clubs, including English Premier League's Manchester City and Bayern Munich, where her close friend Lena Oberdorf plays.
Brand joined Wolfsburg from TSG Hoffenheim in 2022 and quickly established herself as one of Europe’s promising talents, earning the prestigious title of "Golden Girl" for the best young female player. Despite her initial struggles with the high expectations placed on her performance, she has made strides, even helping Wolfsburg secure DFB-Pokal victories.
“She has no consistency in her performances, continuously hints at her potential, but has not yet found a way to reliably bring this potential to the pitch,” stated Ralf Kellermann, VfL Wolfsburg's women’s football manager, reflecting on the form and progress of Brand. Following this critique, Brand displayed resilience and was able to demonstrate her abilities more consistently on the field, contributing to the recent successes of her team.
Frohms, 29, who has had a celebrated career, returning to Wolfsburg after stints with SC Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, is also parting ways with the club. She stepped back from international duties following the Tokyo Olympics, expressing disappointment over the lack of playing opportunities, especially with her being overshadowed by competition from fellow goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger during those Games.
The impending departures of these two players come at a pivotal time for VfL Wolfsburg. The club has faced challenges recently, finishing second to Bayern Munich over the past two seasons and struggling for stability. But with the departures of both Brand and Frohms, the management is already considering potential replacements. Names like Sophia Winkler from SGS Essen and Stina Johannes from Eintracht Frankfurt have surfaced as possible candidates to fill Frohms' role as the team’s goalkeeper.
Wolfsburg is also moving quickly to secure reinforcements for their attacking lineup, confirming the signing of Australian international Sharn Freier, who is expected to join the squad for the 2025-26 season.
Looking forward, the dynamics at VfL Wolfsburg will surely shift as they prepare not just for the immediate future following the season's end but also to adapt to the significant changes within the squad. Both Brand and Frohms leaving reflects broader shifts within the Frauen-Bundesliga, as clubs look to strengthen their line-ups and compete at higher levels.
The season isn't over yet, and there's much to play for, but as two key players prepare to exit, all eyes are on what's next for both Brand and Frohms, and how VfL Wolfsburg will rebuild for the challenges to come.