Philipp Treu: Who is the Freiburg full-back whose name is in conversation for the Germany national team?
Freiburg full-back Philipp Treu earned a video call from Germany national team coach Jürgen Klopp after the superb start for him and his team to 2026/27. But what more is there to know about the talent who has a past at RB Leipzig and St. Pauli?
Data correct as of 16 September 2026
Philipp Treu
Age: 25 (born 3 December 2000)
Club: Freiburg
Position: Right-back
Country: Germany (uncapped)
Key stats
Born in Heidelberg, Treu's youth development brought him to Sandhausen, RB Leipzig and Freiburg, whom he helped to win the 2017/18 DFB Youth Cup. He spent four seasons with Freiburg II in the regional league and third tier before St. Pauli signed him ahead of their 2023/24 Bundesliga 2 campaign.
He netted a goal and provided two assists to help the Hamburg-based cult club earn promotion to the Bundesliga in his first season, and followed that up with two assists in 33 appearances as they ensured top-flight safety in 2024/25.
His former club Freiburg then came calling in summer 2025, and he settled straight in - smashing his first Bundesliga goal from the edge of the box against Wolfsburg on Matchday 15 and making 28 league appearances, plus 14 more in the UEFA Europa League - including the historic final defeat to Aston Villa.
Continued impressive performances as Freburg topped the table after Matchday 3 of 2026/27 earned him a video call from Jürgen Klopp ahead of his first Germany squad selection in September 2026, which Treu explained was Klopp's way of getting to know him.
Plays a bit like: Nathaniel Brown
Without quite having hit the heights of the Bayern Munich summer signing from Eintracht Frankfurt, Treu is a similarly speedy and polished full-back accomplished at both ends of the pitch, albeit one who operates on the other flank to the Germany left-back.
Did you know?
Treu doesn't entirely shun social media, but he does show remarkable discipline - putting out just 11 Instagram posts over the course of more than three years, roughly at a rate of one for each thousand followers. Might a Germany call-up merit making that a dozen?
What they're saying
“Philipp defends resolutely while also being capable of creating a goal threat. He brings a good mix of stamina and sprints. There is no need to add anything about his character and attitude.” - Freiburg sporting director Klemens Hartenbach
"The important thing is maintaining the values and the culture that has been developed in the dressing room over the years. I do believe that this is a challenge, and that the guys who really represent these values – like Philipp Treu – play a crucial role." - Freiburg coach Julian Schuster
