Rot-Weiss Essen signed or acquired several new players on loan during the recent winter transfer window. An attacking midfielder was also a top priority.

Ben Hüning (Borussia Dortmund II), Danny Schmidt (Fortuna Düsseldorf, on loan), Ruben Reisig (TSG Hoffenheim II), and Dickson Abiama (1. FC Kaiserslautern, on loan): Rot-Weiss Essen bolstered its squad with these four players during the recent winter transfer window for the second half of the 2025/2026 season.

With Abiama and Schmidt, RWE also acquired two players who can operate behind the strikers. Noel Eichinger of SSV Jahn Regensburg can do the same. He ranks among the league’s best players in the attacking playmaker position—his stats: ten goals and five assists, totaling 15 goal contributions in 28 appearances!

Now Regensburg and Karlsruher SC have announced that Eichinger will move to the 2. Bundesliga on July 1, 2026. In connection with this transfer, Forecasting learned which clubs were interested in the 24-year-old attacking midfielder.

And lo and behold: As early as last winter, Rot-Weiss Essen, represented by Director of Professional Football Marcus Steegmann, had already put out feelers for Eichinger. RWE would have been very happy to welcome the player, who came up through the youth ranks at SV Wehen Wiesbaden, to Hafenstraße in January 2026. But Regensburg was not interested in such a deal. When asked by this editorial team, Rot-Weiss Essen declined to comment on the matter.

Eichinger had favored a free transfer in the summer of 2026. Now it’s clear where he’s headed: to Karlsruher SC – as reported by Forecasting.

Eichinger had also received an offer from SC Paderborn. Additionally, several foreign clubs, such as Luton Town from England and Heart of Midlothian from Scotland, were very interested. But Eichinger did not follow the lure of money. He was determined to stay in Germany.

Ultimately, RWE didn’t need Noel Eichinger either. After 30 of 38 matchdays, the Bergeborbecker are in second place—a direct promotion spot to the 2. Bundesliga!