Yannik Engelardt: Who is Freiburg’s midfield returnee?
Yannik Engelhardt is back in the Bundesliga on a permanent basis, having returned to former employer Freiburg after spending the 2025/26 campaign on loan at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Here is everything you need to know about Die Breisgauer’s indefatigable No.16…
Stats correct as of 18 July 2026
Yannik Engelhardt
Age: 25 (born 7 February 2001)
Club: Freiburg
Position: Defensive midfield
Country: Germany (nine youth caps)
Key stats
Born in Göttingen, Engelhardt began his football journey at the youth sides of local teams JSG Eintracht HöhBernSee and JFV Eichsfeld before joining Werder Bremen’s academy in 2015, where he would remain until being handed his debut for the reserve team in the 2019/20 Regionalliga Nord season.
After impressing that term, Engelhardt was permanently promoted to the reserve team's Regionalliga squad in Summer 2020 ahead of the upcoming 2020/21 season. However, he would ultimately make only eight appearances before the league was suspended in November due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.
Nevertheless, in the summer of 2021, Engelhardt signed his first professional contract with Bremen before being immediately loaned out to Freiburg’s reserve team, who had been promoted to the 3. Liga the previous campaign, for the duration of the 2021–22 season under head coach Thomas Stamm, now of Dynamo Dresden.
His loan spell in the Black Forest would be extended for another year ahead of the 2022–23 season and his impressive showings would lead Fortuna Düsseldorf to come calling in June 2023.
However, Engelhardt would spend just one season on loan in Bundesliga 2 as that year Die Flingeraner would reach both the promotion play-off final, where they were ultimately defeated in a dramatic penalty shootout against Bochum, and a DFB Cup semi-final, where they were knocked out by eventual winners Bayer Leverkusen. The young midfielder’s consistent, tenacious performances would garner the attention of Italian side Como, who had just secured promotion back to Serie A and acquired the German’s services in August 2024.
Under head coach Cesc Fàbregas, Engelhardt made a total of 26 appearances in his maiden campaign in Italy, oscillating between a starter and an impact player off the bench. Seeking more consistent playing time, Engelhardt signed a season-long loan deal for Gladbach in September 2025 and would finally make his Bundesliga debut at the start of an impressive campaign for the Foals in which the midfielder racked up 31 top-flight appearances, scoring twice.
Plays a bit like: Aleksandar Pavlović
Despite being three years his senior, Engelhardt’s game is very much evocative of Bayern München’s midfield powerhouse. Both are in possession of tall, slender frames, though that’s not to say they’re lacking in physicality.
A tireless runner, a strong tackler and metronomic in terms of his distribution of play out from the back, Engelhardt – much like Pavlović – relishes in the space between defence and midfield, acting as an integral vertebra within the spine of any team.
Did you know?
In March 2022, the then 21-year-old was included in Freiburg great Christian Streich's squad for two consecutive Bundesliga matches – against VfL Wolfsburg and Greuther Fürth on Matchdays 26 and 27 of the 2022/23 term respectively – though he did not make an appearance.
What they’re saying
“His reputation as a player is growing. He brings a lot of energy and intelligence.” - Como head coach Cesc Fàbregas
“He's incredibly important for the team. Yannik closes gaps, recognizes space, finds the right balance between defence and attack. And his work rate is outstanding.” – Gladbach head coach Eugen Polanski
“Yannik made a very strong impression during his first spell at Freiburg. He can read a game brilliantly and is very good technically. At his two previous clubs, the ability to provide structure and stability to his side was demanded of him, and now we want to combine those strengths with his attacking qualities.” – Freiburg sporting director Klemens Hartenbach
