Rot-Weiss Essen signed or acquired several new players on loan during the past winter transfer window. A playmaker was also high on their wish list.

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 past winter transfer window in preparation 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, for a total of 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 this past winter, Rot-Weiss Essen, represented by Director of Professional Soccer 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. However, Regensburg was not interested in such a deal. When asked by this publication, 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. In addition, several foreign clubs, such as Luton Town from England and Heart of Midlothian from Scotland, were very interested. But Eichinger did not succumb to the lure of money. He was determined to stay in Germany.

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