Samuel Essende leads Swiss Super League scoring charts after flying Young Boys start

Samuel Essende has emerged as the early leader in the Swiss Super League goalscoring race, with the BSC Young Boys forward already finding the net seven times this season.

The 28-year-old Congolese striker has made an immediate impact in Bern and is also contributing creatively, with three assists to his name. His performances have placed him ahead of players including Winsley Boteli in the current scoring standings.

Essende’s form represents a strong start to his time with Young Boys, who brought him to Switzerland after his spell in Germany with Augsburg. The move was completed in February 2026 and reportedly cost the club close to 3 million euros.

That fee ranks among the most significant transfers in BSC Young Boys’ history. Essende signed a contract running until 2029 and is currently valued at 2.5 million euros by Transfermarkt.

His displays at the beginning of the campaign could, however, lead to a rise in that valuation over the coming months. The forward has quickly become one of the main attacking figures at the Bern-based club.

From Paris Saint-Germain academy to the DR Congo

Born in Montfermeil, France, on 23 January 1998, Essende spent part of his development years at Paris Saint-Germain. Although he was born and raised in France, he opted to represent the Democratic Republic of the Congo at international level.

His career has therefore taken him through French football, Germany and now Switzerland. At 28, Essende is enjoying one of the most prominent periods of his career, with his early-season goalscoring record making him the current leading scorer in the Swiss Super League.

The next opportunity for Essende and Young Boys comes in the eighth round of the Swiss championship, when they face FC Lugano. At that stage, the striker will look to continue a run that has placed him at the centre of attention in the Swiss top flight.