December 2017, FC Basel announced that Frei would return to the club, signing a four and a half year contract dated up until June 2022. Under trainer Marcel Koller Basel won the Swiss Cup in the 2018–19 season. In the first round Basel beat Montlingen 3–0, in the second round Echallens Région 7–2 and in the round of 16 Winterthur 1–0. In the quarter finals Sion were defeated 4–2 after extra time and in the semi finals Zürich were defeated 3–1. All these games were played away from home. The final was held on 19 May 2019 in the Stade de Suisse Wankdorf Bern against Thun. Striker Albian Ajeti scored the first goal, Fabian Frei the second for Basel, then Dejan Sorgić netted a goal for Thun, but the end result was 2–1 for Basel. Frei played in five cup games and scored not only in the final but also a goal in the match against Echallens. International career Frei represented Switzerland at various age levels. He played his Swiss Under-16s debut on 12 October 2004 in the 3–1 away win against the Belgium Under-16s. In 14 games for the Switzerland U-17 team he scored ten goals. Between 2008 and 2011 Fabian Frei played 18 games for the Switzerland U-21 team. His Under-21s debut was on 19 November 2008 in the 1–1 away draw against the Greece Under-21 team. His last game was the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Final on 25 June 2011. Following this he was called into the Swiss national football team by trainer Ottmar Hitzfeld. Frei gave his international debut for Switzerland on 7 October 2011 in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying game in the Liberty Stadium against Wales. Frei was selected to represent Switzerland in the men's football tournament at the 2012 Summer Olympics as part of the Swiss under-23 team. He played over 90 minutes in all three games in the tournament, but the team were knocked out, finishing in fourth position of their Group. Career statistics Club International goals Scores and results list Switzerland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Frei goal. Honours Club Basel Swiss Super League (5): 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15 Swiss Cup (3): 2007–08, 2011–12, 2018–19 Swiss Cup runner up (3): 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15 Uhren Cup (3): 2008, 2011, 2013 U18 Swiss Champion (1): 2005–06 U19 Swiss Cup (1): 2005–06 International UEFA Euro U21 Runner-up: 2011