German football club Freiburg announced on Saturday that Janik Engelhardt will return to the squad in a transfer move from Italian club Como, to play for the first team.

Freiburg did not disclose any details about the contract of the 25-year-old, who played for Freiburg's under-23 team in the third division from 2021 to 2023.

Engelhardt joined Como in 2024 from Fortuna Düsseldorf, and played in the German league last season on loan at Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Engelhardt said: 'My connection to Freiburg has never been broken, whether with the players or the club officials. I am very happy to return to Freiburg. The club's ambitions are high, which I like, and I am very excited to start the journey.'

The announcement of the deal came one day after Freiburg sold their young Swiss striker Yohan Manzambi to Aston Villa, who defeated them in the Europa League final last May, for a club record fee that could reach 70 million euros ($80 million).

Freiburg, who finished seventh in the Bundesliga last season, begin their new campaign on August 20 with the first leg of the playoff round for the Europa Conference League, before starting their Bundesliga season on August 30 against Werder Bremen.