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Florian Plettenberg reports that Heidenheim are on the verge of completing a highly interesting January transfer. The Ostalbenschwaben are evidently set to pick up winger Sirlord Conteh’s younger brother Christian Conteh from Eintracht Braunschweig. The 26-year-old Christian is reportedly due in BaWü on Monday for a medical.
Christian shall end up costing FCH approximately €2m. Sirlord joined Heidenheim on a €700,000 transfer from Paderborn ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. In his debut Heidenheim campaign, Sirlord the famously twice broke the Bundesliga speed record during an ongoing battle with Bochum’s Gerrit Holtmann.
After scoring his first goal of the current 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign, Sirlord unfortunately had to undergo meniscus surgery and has missed most of the season. The elder brother did return just before the Christmas break and also started in Heidenheim’s 2-2 Bundesliga draw with Köln on Saturday afternoon.
Both brothers do tend to perform well at the same position (right flank) but can play on the left or even in the center of attack. Sirlord has often worked as a right wingback or even fullback during his time under FCH head coach Frank Schmidt.
What is the story of the Conteh brothers?
The two siblings were both born in Hamburg to Ghanaian parents and came up through developmental academies in the north. Sirlord worked further north in Lübeck for a time while Christian remained in Hamburg. The two brothers eventually worked their way into the St. Pauli ranks. Sirlord spent four full seasons representing the reserves in the fourth tier before finally getting a shot at fully professional football with Magdeburg in the 3. Liga at the age of 23.
Five more seasons spent playing for Magdeburg and Paderborn in the German third and second divisions finally earned Sirlord a shot at Bundesliga football at the age of 28. Christian’s rise initially proceeded much quicker. After two seasons with the St. Pauli reserves, Christian was playing 2. Bundesliga football with the Kiezkicker the same year Sirlord was making his 3. Liga debut.
Feyenoord even picked up Christian after he netted two goals in seven appearances during the 2019/20 2. Bundesliga campaign. Christian regrettably made only two Eredivisie appearances for De Stadionclub, who ended up loaning him out three times. Christian returned to German football permanently via a free transfer to Osnabrück in the second division ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
The two brothers (Christian for Osnabrück and Sirlord for Paderborn) played against each other in the German second division that year. Sirlord then leaped up a level while Christian moved over to Braunschweig and (like the rest of the team) played a very poor 2. Bundesliga season. This year, Christian has scored a career high four goals for the Lower Saxon Lions.
