Essen came so close to promotion last season getting narrowly beaten by Köln in the play-offs. The aim this season is to secure automatic promotion to the Bundesliga and avoid another heartbreak

Rules to keep CM realistic:

⭕️ Only free transfers/loans

⭕️ At least 12 players trained by German club in the squad (4 U23)

⭕️ Not allowed to sign 75+ players

⭕️ Not allowed to sign 70+ players U30

⭕️ Top players in squad must be sold/allowed to leave on free to superior club

⭕️ Player contracts cannot exceed 3 years (U21 4 years)

Transfers (Summer 2025)

OUT

Milo Scholz - -> Beşiktaş JK (€8.9m)

Jan Boller - -> Seattle Sounders FC (€2.3m)

Jakob Golz - -> Cardiff City FC (Free Transfer)

Brandley Kuwas - -> 1. FC Nürnberg (Free Transfer)

Orrin McKinze Gaines - -> Millwall FC (Free Transfer)

Cedric Harenbrock - -> Millwall FC (Free Transfer)

Andreas Wiegel - -> Retired

Nick Hofmann - -> Crewe Alexandra FC (1-Year Loan)

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IN

Jonas Kersken - Borussia Mönchengladbach -> (Free Transfer)

Sidi Sané - FC Schalke 04 -> (2-Year Loan)

Marcel Beifus - FC St. Pauli -> (Free Transfer)

Ohi Omoijuanfo - Brøndby IF -> (Free Transfer)

Tim Civeja - FC Augsburg -> (1-Year Loan)

Nathaniel Brown - 1. FC Nürnberg -> (1-Year Loan)

Johannes Geis - 1. FC Nürnberg -> (Free Transfer)

Arijon Ibrahimovic - FC Bayern München -> (1-Year Loan)

Alfredo Morales - New York City FC -> (Free Transfer)

Transfers (Winter 2026)

OUT

Nick Albrecht - -> Benevento Calcio (6-Month Loan)

Amahl Pellegrino - -> Blackpool FC (€890k)

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IN

Alexander Prokopenko - Free Agents -> (Free Transfer)

Paul Glatzel - Free Agents -> (Free Transfer)