Rot Weiss Ahlen has bolstered its squad once again in the relegation battle of the Oberliga Westfalen. The new signing has recently celebrated two promotions.

Rot Weiss Ahlen had already made two moves in the transfer market. In mid-December, the club had already announced the loans of Iskender Aslan (SC Wiedenbrück) and Jan Nzeba-Bost (VfL Bochum II) through the end of the season.

Now, the second-to-last-place team in the Oberliga Westfalen has secured its first permanent signing. Franko Uzelac is joining Ahlen from Sportfreunde Lotte in the Regionalliga West. The 31-year-old center back has signed a contract through the summer of 2027 with an option for an additional year.

“Franko has exactly the profile we were looking for. He is extremely experienced, knows how to handle pressure from many years in higher-level soccer, and knows how to take on responsibility. On top of that, he has a connection to Ahlen—he knows what this club and this city mean. We are convinced that he will immediately help our team both on and off the field,” explained Luka Tankulic, RWA’s sporting director, during the presentation on the club’s website.

Uzelac said of his return to his roots: “For me, this is something special. I was born here and am very much looking forward to this role. The discussions were open and clear—I was offered a position with responsibility, and that’s exactly what appeals to me. I bring a lot of experience to the table and want to help the team gain stability and achieve our goals together.”

Experience is certainly a key strength for Uzelac. During his career, he played over 260 games in the Regionalliga, including 13 this season for Sportfreunde Lotte. Previously, he was also part of the 3. Liga squad at Würzburger Kickers during the 2017/18 season, for whom he also made an appearance in the 2. Bundesliga.

However, he spent the majority of his career playing in the regional leagues in the west, north, and northeast. Among other achievements, he celebrated promotion to the 3. Liga with Alemannia Aachen. He achieved the same feat a season later with MSV Duisburg, which he left for Lotte before this season and is now leading back to his hometown of Ahlen.