SC Freiburg has confirmed that promising young left-back Berkay Yilmaz will return to the club for the 2026/27 season after a successful two-year loan spell at 1. FC Nürnberg. The 21-year-old defender has also signed a new contract with the Breisgau club, though the length of the deal remains undisclosed.

Yilmaz's development in the 2. Bundesliga has been impressive, with 58 appearances for Nürnberg yielding one goal and eight assists. His ability to combine attacking flair with defensive discipline caught the eye of Freiburg's sporting director Klemens Hartenbach, who praised the young full-back's adaptation to second-division football.

"Berkay adapted very well to life in the second division and showed a strong ability to balance attacking intent with defensive responsibilities during his time at Nürnberg," Hartenbach said. "He has a huge heart and feels fully at home at SC, which makes for an excellent foundation for us to continue working together on the finer details of his game."

The sporting director also acknowledged the collaborative relationship between the two clubs, adding: "We would also like to thank Nürnberg for the outstanding cooperation we've all enjoyed throughout the loan spell."

For Yilmaz, the return to Freiburg represents the fulfillment of a long-held ambition. "I had a very good time in Nürnberg, for which I'm extremely grateful. But it was always my plan and my ambition to establish myself at SC," the young defender said. "That makes today a very special day for me. I'm really looking forward to wearing the Freiburg shirt at the Europa-Park Stadion and being able to celebrate successful times together."

As Yilmaz prepares to compete for a spot in Freiburg's first team, fans will be eager to see how his attacking instincts and defensive growth translate to the Bundesliga stage. For those looking to support the rising star, the club's official merchandise—including replica shirts and training gear—offers the perfect way to show your colors this season.