The start of the second half of the season and the TUSEM Essen surprised with a spectacular transfer coup of a very special kind. The insolvent and forcibly relegated team signed contracts with five British national players who have prepared for the Olympic games 2012 in London in a Danish training camp . After the reduce of means of the British handball players everyone has been very open to the offer by Essen. The five men now support the designated relegated team. While the coach of Essen, Kristof Sziargiej, can train with a complete team the young national players get game and competition practice.

Ciaran Williams, Chris McDermott, Merlin Braithwaite, Dan McMillan and Sebastian Prieto have only been playing for Essen for a matter of days since moving to from their previous base in Denmark, but all were named in the squad for play.