Kelven Frees: Hoffenheim centre-back joins Kaiserslautern on loan

Kelven Frees has joined 1. FC Kaiserslautern on loan from Hoffenheim, completing a move from the Bundesliga club to the 2. Bundesliga side on 7 July 2026.

The 21-year-old centre-back, who stands at 2.02m and is right-footed, moves to Kaiserslautern with a current market value of 500,000. The transfer is a straight loan, with no fee disclosed in the available information.

Born in Dusseldorf on 3 February 2005, Frees represents both Germany and Nigeria at nationality level and has developed as a specialist central defender. He previously progressed through Hoffenheims youth and reserve structure before reaching the first-team squad, with his valuation rising from 25,000 in early 2025 to its current 500,000 by May 2026.

Frees arrived at Hoffenheims academy in 2023 from Fortuna Dusseldorfs youth system, where he had come through the clubs U17 and U19 sides after starting out at TuRU Dusseldorf. He advanced to Hoffenheim U19 and then Hoffenheim II in 2024, before being promoted from the second team to Hoffenheims senior squad ahead of the 202526 season.

The move to Kaiserslautern places Frees in the 2. Bundesliga for the 202627 campaign, following his spell at Hoffenheim, who compete in the Bundesliga. He is listed with shirt number 45 at Kaiserslautern.

Freess loan switch from Hoffenheim to Kaiserslautern is confirmed for the 202627 season within the German league system.