Freiburg’s Bruno Ogbus: Loan Speculations Amid Rising Performances

As the January 2026 Bundesliga transfer window unfolds, the future of young Swiss defensive talent Bruno Ogbus from SC Freiburg remains a captivating topic. Multiple outlets from the 2. Bundesliga have expressed interest in acquiring the 20-year-old’s services. A loan deal to German second division club 1. FC Kaiserslautern appeared imminent until an injury to Freiburg’s starting center-back, Philipp Lienhart, necessitated Ogbus’s inclusion in the starting lineup.

Freiburg’s head coach, Julian Schuster, recently commended Ogbus during an early January press conference. Schuster paired Ogbus with the seasoned veteran Anthony Jung for their match against RB Leipzig last night. Despite Freiburg’s 2-0 loss, both Jung and Schuster lauded Ogbus’s performance.

“Bruno handled matters very calmly and solidly,” Jung remarked about his youthful defensive partner, who is 14 years his junior, during the mixed zone interviews. “He performed exceptionally well, and I would gladly partner with him again.”

Schuster echoed these sentiments in the post-match press conference, stating, “That was very well done from Tony and Bruno. They played together for the first time against a very tough opponent.”

The coach further emphasized, “We won’t be pressured into a loan deal. We will carefully consider what is best for both the club and the individual players. Our goal is always to provide opportunities for our players.”

On January 9th, Schuster expressed his optimism for Ogbus, stating, “He is a highly talented young man for whom we have significant hopes. It has been rewarding to witness Bruno’s determination in recovering from injury—he hasn’t missed a day and continues to strive for playing time.”

At the onset of the current January window, it seemed almost certain that Freiburg would send Ogbus on loan to the 2. Bundesliga. However, with center-back Mattias Ginter expected to return soon from gastrointestinal issues and Lienhart on the mend from an abdominal strain, Ogbus’s status may shift.

Additionally, German defender Max Rosenfelder has faced his own injury challenges this season but is projected to return shortly after overcoming a December setback. Freiburg possesses a solid roster of center-backs, complicating the loan situation for Ogbus.

An additional factor that may influence the decision against an Ogbus loan—albeit somewhat superstitious—is Freiburg’s recent trend of recalling two of their loanees this month. The club moved midfielder Robert Wagner from Holstein Kiel to Dynamo Dresden on January 3rd and subsequently terminated winger Noah Weißhaupt’s loan at Legia Warsaw, reallocating him to Hannover 96 in the 2. Bundesliga.

As such, SC Freiburg is likely to deliberate carefully regarding Bruno Ogbus’s next steps.