Eintracht Frankfurt has responded to the new situation in goal and has let Michael Zetterer go after just one year. The goalkeeper is heading to Leeds United in the Premier League.
Until very recently, Michael Zetterer hadn’t given a second thought to leaving this summer. The fact that the 31-year-old is now leaving Eintracht after just one year is also due to the new situation in Frankfurt’s goal. Noah Atubolu arrived from Freiburg as the new No. 1—and Zetterer is heading to Leeds.
The Premier League club signed the Munich native as the No. 2 behind new starting goalkeeper James Trafford and, according to consistent media reports, is transferring five million euros to Frankfurt. That is almost exactly the same amount that Frankfurt paid to Werder Bremen in the summer of 2025. Zetterer has been signed to a three-year contract through June 30, 2029. “I’ve been told that the city and the surrounding area are fully behind the club. So yes, I’m looking forward to experiencing that,” the goalkeeper is quoted as saying by his new club.
If Kaua Santos—who is slated to replace Atubolu—were to leave Eintracht as well, it would lead to a major goalkeeper shake-up along the Main. But it hasn’t come to that yet.
Third Stint Abroad
For Zetterer, Leeds marks his third stint abroad. Early in his career, he spent half a year in goal for Austria Klagenfurt and then two years on contract with PEC Zwolle in the Netherlands. During two of his four and a half years at Werder Bremen, Zetterer was a regular starter before accepting the challenge in Frankfurt.
Last season, Zetterer was immediately called upon after his move to Eintracht and ended up making 22 Bundesliga appearances. In England, the third German on coach Daniel Farke’s team—after Anton Stach and Lukas Nmecha—is likely to be needed primarily in the many cup competitions at first. “There are a lot of German players here right now, which of course makes it very easy for me. I know Ilia Gruev from a previous club, so I’m looking forward to getting to know the team and getting to know each other,” the goalkeeper explained.