Rot-Weiss Essen had him on their radar, but ultimately signed Jannik Mause instead: Maximilian Breunig is moving to a second division club.

A move to Rot-Weiss Essen didn’t work out: While RWE has strengthened its attack with Jannik Mause, Maximilian Breunig is moving to the second division. The striker, who was on Essen’s list, is moving to 1. FC Magdeburg on loan. The 25-year-old striker played 13 Bundesliga games (two goals), five Conference League games, and two DFB Cup games (three goals) last season. At FCM, he will wear the number nine jersey. “FCM is a traditional club and stands for attractive soccer in the 2nd Bundesliga. I am very much looking forward to being a part of it and especially to the great atmosphere at the home games in Magdeburg,” said Breunig.

The departure of top scorer Martijn Kaars to Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli has left a vacancy in Magdeburg, which Breunig is now expected to fill. “In Maximilian, we are getting a striker who was trained in Germany, who has caught our eye since his time at Freiburg and who has recently gained Bundesliga experience. He gives us another option in attack and we are convinced that he will help us move forward,” said Magdeburg’s sporting director Otmar Schork.

Coach Markus Fiedler added: “Maximilian will enrich our offensive play with his height, presence, and finishing skills. He gained valuable Bundesliga experience last season and will help us move forward.”

Breunig was born on August 14, 2000, in Würzburg. Until the summer of 2015, he played in the youth teams of SpVgg Greuther Fürth, and until 2018, he played for Würzburger Kickers in the U17 and U19 teams. This was followed by a one-year loan to FC Ingolstadt’s U19 team. There, he scored 15 goals and provided one assist in 22 games in the U19 Bundesliga. In 2019, he returned to Würzburg, made the leap to the men’s team and scored three goals in eleven third division games. In September 2020, Breunig was loaned to Admira Wacker, then in the Austrian Bundesliga. The 1.95-meter striker made 23 appearances (five goals) in the Bundesliga. After returning to Würzburg in the summer of 2021, he made 21 third division appearances (three goals).

The attacking player moved to SC Freiburg II in the summer of 2022. In 42 third division games, he scored 14 goals and provided two assists. Last summer, he finally made the move to Heidenheim.