To the leader of the Regionalliga West
©IMAGO
1. FC Köln is releasing its own product, Neo Telle. The 20-year-old central defender is joining the regional league team Fortuna Cologne. The Cologne native has been part of the Effzeh professional squad since the beginning of 2025 and played there three times, but all games were from last season. This season he only played for the second representative in the Regionalliga West, whose league leaders are Fortuna Cologne.
“Last summer we spoke intensively with Neo about his next development steps and his prospects at FC. Since a loan as the next development step that everyone had wanted could not be realized, we have now reassessed the situation together again. It is understandable for us that Neo has now decided on a change in order to take the next steps in a new environment. We wish Neo all the best in the Südstadt and much success for his future career,” said Lukas Berg, Technical Director of 1. FC Cologne.
With a market value of 300,000 euros, Telle is now the most valuable player in Fortuna Cologne’s squad. “We have made an outstanding signing with Neo. He is a young, highly talented central defender who will make our squad stronger in the short term. He will have enough time to integrate well in the upcoming preparation and in the next few weeks,” explained coach Matthias Mink.