The SSV Ulm 1846 is on the verge of a move to the 2nd Bundesliga thanks to the outstanding Leonardo Scienza. The ex-Schalker could even go one league higher.

SSV Ulm 1846 are, quite surprisingly, on the verge of a direct promotion to Bundesliga 2. With four matchdays to go, they are already seven points ahead of third place in the relegation play-offs. Dresden and RWE, who are lurking behind in fourth and fifth place, have as much as ten points.

Leonardo Scienza has played a decisive role in this. The winger played for FC Schalke 04’s second team in the Regionalliga West from 2020 to 2022 and impressed with 32 scoring points in 59 games. However, he never got a chance with the professionals, which is why he joined second-division side Magdeburg in the summer of 2022.

However, professional minutes were rare there too. While he was clearly overqualified for the second team in the Verbandsliga (ten games, 13 goals, seven assists), he only made twelve appearances over 277 minutes for Christian Titz’s team before deciding to take another step back.

And this move to SSV Ulm 1846, who were promoted to the third division, proved to be absolutely right. Scienza is an absolute fixture there and is one of the key players. In the league, he has already scored 20 points (eight goals, twelve assists) in 30 games – only Ole Pohlmann from Dortmund II (eleven goals, ten assists), RWE attacker Marvin Obuz (seven goals, 14 assists) and Ingolstadt’s Jannik Mause (18 goals, five assists) have been more successful so far.

Release clause of 500,000 euros

While Ulm can dream of the Bundesliga 2 thanks to the 25-year-old Brazilian’s performances, Scienza himself could even move up a league. As reported by Sky, the attacking player is said to be close to an agreement with 1. FC Heidenheim. This would see him surpass his two former clubs Schalke and Magdeburg and play in the Bundesliga in the future.

According to the report, Heidenheim are prepared to activate the exit clause of 500,000 euros and lure Scienza to the Brenz. It would be the second reinforcement from the 3rd division for the FCH, having previously secured Luca Kerber from 1. FC Saarbrücken