Sportfreunde Siegen have signed a new striker. In exchange, another forward has been loaned to a league rival.

Sportfreunde Siegen has made a significant addition to its roster just before the transfer window closes. Paul-Philipp Besong has been loaned from third-division club SSV Ulm until the end of the season.

“We are very pleased that, after weeks of preparation, the loan deal with SSV Ulm and Paul-Philipp Besong has come together. Paul is a lightning-fast and technically skilled center forward who saw frequent action in the 3. Liga during the first half of the season but now hopes to regain his former form with more playing time. He will certainly enrich our offensive play,” says Matthias Georg, managing director of Sportfreunde Siegen.

At just 25 years old, Besong has already racked up 75 appearances in the 3. Liga. His record for Erzgebirge Aue, Borussia Dortmund II, and Ulm: 13 goals and seven assists. This season, the versatile attacker has mostly come off the bench: of his 18 appearances, only six were as a starter (one goal, two assists). He came up through the youth systems at Borussia Dortmund and 1. FC Nürnberg.

“I had a good feeling right away during our talks and can’t wait to get started with the team,” said Besong about his move.

Making room for him is Josue Santo, who is being loaned to Wuppertaler SV. “Following the signing of Paul-Philipp Besong, it is very important to us that Santo gets sufficient playing time. We have great confidence in his abilities and are pleased that he can now get a head start in Wuppertal for five months before returning to us in the summer.”

Following their promotion to the Regionalliga West, Sportfreunde Siegen are in fifth place with 33 points after 19 games. Last Saturday, Boris Schommers’ team kicked off the 2026 competitive season with a 2-0 win over FC Schalke 04’s second team. This coming Sunday, they’ll face 1. FC Köln II at home. Possibly with Besong by then.