Sophia Kleinherne will leave Eintracht Frankfurt this summer after triggering a release clause in her contract. The 25-year-old defender, whose current deal was due to run until 30 June 2026, joined Eintracht under their pre-merger guise of 1. FFC Frankfurt in 2017 and was initially part of the second team’s squad. She made the step up to the first team during the second half of the 2017/18 campaign, making her Bundesliga debut on 11 February 2018 against SGS Essen.
She has since made around 190 competitive appearances for the club, including 153 in the Bundesliga. After winning the European Under-17 Championship in 2016, helping Germany finish second at the European Under-19 Championship in 2019, and winning Fritz Walter medals in 2017 (bronze) and 2018 (silver), Kleinherne not only appeared in the Champions League for the first time during her spell in Frankfurt but also made the step up to senior international level. She has won 34 caps for her country since making her debut in November 2019 and was part of the Germany squad that finished second at EURO 2022.
Even if I set out on a new path in football, a little of my heart will always remain here.
Sophia Kleinherne
“The decision to leave Eintracht Frankfurt was an extremely difficult one,” said Kleinherne. “The eight years I spent with the club go far beyond football. I went to boarding school here at the age of 17, with no idea of where my path would take me. I came to love the city, made friends for life and understood what it means to live your dream. From an early stage, I could feel a level of trust in me that was incredibly genuine, from the coaching staff, the management and the team. I was challenged, encouraged and allowed to blossom into an international player. I’m grateful to everyone I met, the togetherness here and the unforgettable moments we enjoyed. Nevertheless, the time has come where my gut is telling me to leave my comfort zone, take on new challenges and broaden my own horizons. Even if I set out on a new path in football, a little of my heart will always remain here.”
“As coach, I’ve been able to support Sophia on her journey for the past eight years,” said Niko Arnautis, Eintracht Women’s head coach and sporting director. “In that time, Sophia has continued to mature and take on more responsibility for the team. She also recently became a member of the team council. I still recall how incredibly proud we all were of her in 2019, when she put in a confident performance on her international debut against England. In addition to her qualities on the pitch, she’s a really great person who has always given 100 per cent for the success of the team and completely identifies with the city and the club. We’re very grateful to have been part of her journey for eight years. Even though we’ll miss her as a footballer and as a person, we’ll make up for her departure as a club and as a team. We wish her all the best for the future.”
