Estrela Amadora owes Rot‑Weiss Essen despite Hummels‑Müller

Estrela Amadora owes Rot‑Weiss Essen around €200 000 and is not responding to reminders, even though the investor consortium led by Mats Hummels and Thomas Müller stands behind the club. Mats Hummels, Thomas Müller and Laura Wontorra were spotted on the sidelines of the Germany’s match against the Ivory Coast.

According to the WAZ, Rot‑Weiss Essen has filed a lawsuit with the FIFA football court, which decides international transfer disputes. The dispute stems from the transfer of midfielder Tom Moustier in January 2026, for which a transfer fee of around €600 000 was agreed. The first installment has already been paid, but the second was missed, even though Essen asked the club to pay.

Rot‑Weiss Essen is not the only club affected; Viktoria Köln is also awaiting outstanding payments. For goalkeeper Dudu, who moved to Portugal at the beginning of 2026, the second and final installment is still pending.

The money from the Moustier transfer has already been incorporated into the squad planning for the current season, which makes the dispute untimely for Rot‑Weiss Essen. The current third‑placed team in the 3. Liga is planning reinforcements during the winter break, but a FIFA procedure usually takes several months.

Investor Consortium and Financial Burdens

Since August 2026, Mats Hummels, Thomas Müller, Yann Sommer and Lucas Hernández have held roughly 90 percent of the shares of Estrela Amadora. They are said to have paid an estimated €40 million for the entry. Media report that the investors want to develop the club into one of the top eight in Portugal.

The club is burdened by legacy liabilities of around €25 million, and the stadium as well as training facilities are to be renovated. Club president Johannes Mösmang, formerly player manager at FC Bayern, has been running the club since August 2026.