Rami Malaeb Signs First Professional Contract With Rot-Weiss Essen

Rami Malaeb, a 17-year-old Lebanese winger, signed a professional contract with German club Rot-Weiss Essen on 22 October 2026, securing a permanent place in the first-team squad starting 1 July 2027, Wikipedia reported. The milestone follows his senior team debut in the 3. Liga on 17 October 2026, when he entered a match against FC Ingolstadt as an 84th-minute substitute.

Professional Contract and First-Team Debut at Rot-Weiss Essen

Malaeb joined Rot-Weiss Essen in 2024 after previously playing in the youth setup of fellow German club Rot-Weiß Oberhausen starting in 2022. Before moving to Germany, the Aley-born player developed his early football career at Baissour in Lebanon. Following his progression through the Essen youth ranks, he began training regularly with the senior squad during the 2026–27 season. Uwe Koschinat praised the debutant in the Westfälische Rundschau as a player with a lot of fantasy following his first appearance against FC Ingolstadt.

International Career With the Lebanon National Under-17 Team

On the international stage, Malaeb represented his home country in late 2025. The Lebanese Football Association called him up in November 2025 for qualification matches ahead of the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup. During the tournament qualifiers, he scored a goal for the Lebanon national under-17 team in a 1–1 draw against Palestine.

Squad Integration Scheduled for July 2027

Malaeb will continue his development with Rot-Weiss Essen ahead of his official promotion to the senior squad. The club confirmed that his professional agreement takes full effect on 1 July 2027, locking in his roster spot for the upcoming seasons.