World Cup Transfer Watch: Switzerland sensation Johan Manzambi told to join Chelsea

Analysis

Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi enjoyed a dream cameo off the bench for Switzerland against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday.

After giving up a devastating late goal against minnows Qatar in their opening game, the Swiss desperately needed a win, but they were once again far from impressive.

Murat Yakin again made some surprising and downright baffling personnel decisions, which turned Thursday's game into a slog. It was only when reinforcements arrived off the bench that the match really got going.

Among the players who came on was 20-year-old Freiburg starlet Manzambi, who enjoyed a remarkable breakout campaign in the Bundesliga in 2025/26. His form had tailed off a bit towards the end of the season, but he was back with a bang on Thursday.

The midfielder really kick-started the game with his opening goal in the 74th minute, before completing his brace in the 90th. In the end, a match that had looked like it would end in a drab scoreless draw actually finished with five goals as the Swiss ran out 4-1 victors after a late flurry.

Manzambi told to join Chelsea

Although Manzambi had been a bright spark against Aston Villa in Freiburg's Europa League final loss, it was this game against Bosnia and Herzegovina that really gave him the platform to announce himself on the world stage.

His brace put him on the map, but scouts from around Europe needed no introduction to Manzambi. Elite clubs have been linked with him for months, given that he bagged seven goals and provided nine assists in his first season of regular Bundesliga football, playing as a box-to-box midfielder.

Manzambi has been associated with the likes of Man Utd and Arsenal in recent months, but Germany legend Thomas Muller believes that he would be a great signing for Bayern Munich.

"He’s a good player overall," Muller said while doing punditry for Magenta TV. "We’ve had him on our list for a while now. For me, he’s someone - and you can now write your headlines - that FC Bayern should consider.

"You can sense his flexibility. You can also sense his carefree attitude. At the same time, you can already see a certain maturity in his actions, in his decision-making, his work ethic.

‘"He’s now in Freiburg in a team where they really work hard. I think his development is very, very good. He’s a player who can play as No.6, he can play as No.8, he can play as No.10. He wears number nine on his back, so maybe we could also market him as a striker!"

Data analytics firm SciSports disagrees with Muller's assessment. Bayern are not believed to be a good fit for Manzambi, neither stylistically nor in terms of playing time. The 20-year-old could struggle for minutes behind the now fit again Jamal Musiala.

Instead, Manzambi should consider a move to Serie A or the Premier League. AS Roma and Juventus are believed to be great stylistic fits, while Newcastle, Chelsea and Tottenham also rank well for the Swiss sensation.

Napoli, Arsenal and Man Utd could also be good options for him, though naturally, there would also be playing time concerns at some of these massive clubs.

Perhaps another season at a well-run club like Freiburg would actually be best for his development. But, to use Muller's terminology, that doesn't really make for a good headline!