FC Köln lay out transfer plans with homegrown players given precedence

The Cathedral City club have laid bare their plans for what’s hoped to be a successful transfer window.

With FC Köln on the verge of agreeing terms with new head coach Lukas Kwasniok, the club have set out their transfer plans for 2025-26.

Making a return to the Bundesliga after a one-year absence, Effzeh are expected to prioritize homegrown players first.

Eric Martel (23) and Damion Downs (20) are both entering the final year of their contracts, but Köln are prepared to offer the duo new deals.

Popular sports magazine Kicker believes Downs has already been presented with a lucrative deal, with Martel next in line.

Elsewhere, Köln will hope to offload Sargis Adamyan and Steffen Tigges so they can dip into the attacking market.

Bosnian forward Imad Rondic’s time is also up – he never established himself since his arrival in February for €1.5million

Rondic is expected to take part in preseason, but the club from the cathedral city are hopeful they can find a suitor in Eastern Europe.