Champions League experience
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After the transfer ban expired, 1. FC Köln announced its first transfer. This is right-back Jusuf Gazibegovic from Austrian champions Sturm Graz, who will join the Billy Goats from January 1, 2025 with fresh Champions League experience.
According to “Sky” information, the Cologne-based company is paying an exit clause of 1.8 to 2 million euros for the 24-year-old’s services. This would mean that the Domstadt residents’ expenses would rise to a good 3.9 million euros this season. In contrast, there is income of 4 million euros – so the Effzeh remains in the black. In the summer, loan player Rasmus Carstensen (24) was signed after a loan and the brothers Said El Mala (18) and Malek El Mala (19) were brought in from Viktoria Köln and loaned back. Gazibegovic’s contract is set to run until 2028.
“Jusuf comes to us from the current game – was an undisputed regular player in the full-back position in Graz until recently. We are very pleased that we were able to win him over to FC. For his young age, Jusuf already has a lot of experience at national and international level. In addition to his footballing skills, what sets him apart is his strong mentality. He is a guy who never gives up and has the great ambition to help FC return to the Bundesliga as quickly as possible,” said managing director Christian Keller.
“Gazibegovic has developed into an absolute leader at Sturm who can be used on the right or left side. He is extremely strong at set pieces and is always good for free kick goals himself. I think he’s clearly too strong for the 2nd Bundesliga, a move to a club the size of Hoffenheim like Alexander Prass should be more within his reach,” said Dorian Schuster, Area Manager Austria at Transfermarkt.
Gazibegovic, whose market value is 5 million euros, will meet coach Gerhard Struber again in Cologne. He already knows him from our days together in Salzburg, where he played under him in the youth academy and with the farm team FC Liefering. The Bosnian can be used on the right or left.