Johan Manzambi, who often brings to mind BVB's Felix Nmecha, seems ready to step into the gap left by Leon Goretzka at Bayern Munich. At just 20, he's already making a significant impact at SC Freiburg.

These days, the competition is far from clear-cut. According to Manzambi, Lionel Messi, the experienced playmaker, 20-year-old Pedri, and former midfield ace Yaya Touré all figure into this conversation marking a change from previous times. “When I was a kid, Manuel Neuer was my hero,” Manzambi shared with Sky not long ago.

It might seem a bit unexpected, considering Manzambi has played in midfield for a while now. But he once dreamed of goalkeeping, inspired by Neuer. “Luckily for Switzerland, his father and brother talked him out of it,” Zurich’s Tages-Anzeiger noted last October.

By then, the Geneva-born forward had already earned seven of his ten senior caps for Switzerland, scoring three goals before turning 20. Just a month earlier, he scored against Sweden after a brief substitute appearance. “His instinct for goals is exceptional; it’s something I rarely see,” remarked national coach Murat Yakin.

Yakin first called him up after last season, when Manzambi needed only eleven professional games to become a key player for Freiburg. In those matches, he found the net four times, helping the team reach the pivotal final matchday against Frankfurt for a Champions League spot, a game they unfortunately lost.

“Exceptional in this form”: Johan Manzambi is turning heads at Freiburg. Just weeks after his senior Swiss debut in June 2025, he signed a new Freiburg contract lasting until 2030. The club wasted no time locking down his services to protect his rising market value. Sporting director Jochen Saier commented, "Johan's growth hasn’t slowed; that’s quite remarkable.”

That view still holds. Manzambi has become vital for Freiburg and arguably their most valuable outfield player. With 40 competitive games under his belt, manager Julian Schuster has started him 36 times. His tally stands at six goals and seven assists.

He perfectly illustrates Freiburg’s trusted youth-development approach, a system admired and envied across German football. Head of youth scouting Christoph Wetzel-Veilandics spotted him at Servette Geneva’s U18s in early 2023, and Manzambi quickly advanced through Freiburg’s youth and reserves before breaking into the senior squad.

People often compare him to Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha. As Schuster describes, Manzambi offers a “well-rounded package.” He impressed immediately in senior football with his positive mindset and quiet confidence. He plays boldly, thinks creatively, and threatens the goal frequently. His quick feet make him an excellent dribbler; add his energy and stamina, and you have a player who covers plenty of ground.

He also works with a mental coach to maintain focus, while his tackling strength and endurance keep him impactful throughout matches. “I’m basically a box-to-box player,” he says, “but I can also play wide or as a number ten.”

That versatility goes back to his time at Servette, where he tried nearly every position, including striker. Freiburg is making full use of this flexibility by deploying him across multiple roles.

Still, there’s room for improvement, especially in the more attacking half of midfield. Sometimes he struggles to find the right balance or make decisive moves one-on-one. Surprisingly though, his disciplinary record stands out: this Bundesliga season he’s picked up four yellows and two unfortunate reds, second only to Mainz’s Dominik Kohr.

Even so, his knack for changing a game hasn’t gone unnoticed. Reports from mid-March in Swiss media linked him to Bayern Munich, potentially to fill Goretzka’s spot, and Paris Saint-Germain. Since then, some English giants have also been mentioned.

With a long contract in place and his transfer fee still open to debate, it could take a twist for him not to become Freiburg’s record sale. That record currently belongs to Kevin Schade, who went to Brentford for €25 million in summer 2023; Merlin Röhl is about to match that, heading to Everton soon.

Manzambi himself is eager for the next step, particularly testing himself in the Champions League. Sky suggests Freiburg values him at over €30 million. Yet, as recently as September, the club’s CEO, Saier, said to Kicker: “We only extended Johan’s contract a few months ago on a long-term basis to ensure we’re all aligned.”

When asked about his future, Manzambi sticks to familiar lines: “I’m focused on Freiburg and the World Cup with Switzerland.” On the horizon lie two major finals for Freiburg in the DFB Cup and Europa League, then the World Cup, and after that, a transfer window likely to be full of possibilities.

“My long-term ambition is to win the Champions League,” he mentioned during a Q&A with Freiburg’s media. To reach that goal sooner, he sees two paths: either lifting the European Cup with Freiburg or making a big-money move to another club.