As the next new signing for the upcoming season, VfB Stuttgart introduces Yannick Keitel, who joins on a free transfer thanks to his expiring contract. For the defensive specialist, this marks the first club change in his professional career.
The Freiburg Path
At just eleven years old, Keitel began training at the SC Freiburg youth academy, which, according to Nik Staiger, focuses heavily on both player development and tactics. He progressed through nearly every youth team in Freiburg, eventually becoming a youth international. He also impressed Freiburg’s legendary coach, Christian Streich, who helped him make his professional debut in an away game in Dortmund in 2020. In April 2020, he signed a four-year contract, which expired this June and was not extended despite efforts from SC Freiburg. This was not a surprise, according to Nik Staiger, as the 24-year-old defensive midfielder lacked prospects at Freiburg. The now clubless coach Streich had high demands for the defensive midfield position, making it hard for Keitel to surpass the experienced Höfler. Missing about eleven games this season due to injuries didn’t help the 15-time U‑21 national player either.
A New Chapter
Now, for the first time, Keitel leaves Breisgau and signs with VfB Stuttgart until 2028. Despite his advanced age, Nik Staiger believes Keitel’s potential is not yet fully realized. “I have a high regard for Keitel and believe that at 24 years old, his potential development is somewhat lagging — the injuries have limited his physical capabilities, while he has developed significantly mentally. He is very mature, making him an incredibly exciting talent,” said the freelance journalist who works for, among others, Badische Zeitung and Spox.com.
Strengths and Weaknesses
So what can VfB fans expect? An aggressive leader like Ata or a virtuoso on the ball like Stiller? More the latter, says Nik, but he also believes Keitel has leadership potential. Keitel captained the U‑21 national team for two years and also led the SC Freiburg youth teams. He is skilled with the ball at his feet, his passing is accurate, and his range of passing is extensive. However, he also stands out for his tackling strength and ball retention. On the downside, Nik sees his physicality as a weakness. While he is strong in the air, which is less critical for a team like VfB that plays a ground game, he lacks speed and agility, which negatively impacts his ability to intercept passes and cover depth. Additionally, his crosses are not particularly precise. As a player, he is more of a holding midfielder, preferring to stay back and find spaces for forward moves rather than pushing into the penalty area.
Conclusion
With Keitel, we have secured an exciting backup player for Stiller, who still has considerable potential. Freiburg fans are sad about his departure but wish him well in his new environment and the Champions League. In this spirit, welcome, Yannick!
Picture: © Matthias Hangst/Getty Images