1. FC Cologne
No new faces yet: club loses transfer duel
June 16, 2026 – 4:41 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
1. FC Köln is still holding back on the transfer market. Those responsible want to keep calm, but have already received rejections.
He has around 14 million euros 1. FC Cologne already issued this summer. However, the supporters of the billy goats have so far waited in vain for a new face. This sum, which is quite a considerable amount from Cologne’s perspective, was initially used to permanently sign Jakub Kaminski, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Tom Krauß, who had previously been on loan.
The fact that some league rivals, such as arch-rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach with six new additions, have already bought in cheerfully does not seem to faze those in charge of FC. “We shouldn’t let ourselves be driven by this,” says managing director Philipp Türoff in an interview with the “Geissblog”.
FC managing director Türoff: “We can develop more imagination”
The Cologne finance director even sees it as a sign of their own development that the FC does not have to strike immediately. “We are further along than in the last few years, when we had to look primarily at free transfer players. Now we can develop a little more imagination in one place or another about which players we want to approach,” explains Türoff, but also admits: “The competition is very high. That’s why we have to remain patient.”
According to reports, the billy goats have already received a few rejections on the German market. This is what happened in the case of Darmstadt’s Fraser Hornby. The Scottish attacker ultimately chose between Cologne and VfL Wolfsburg – and opted for the 2nd league. Despite Wolves’ relegation, FC was unable to keep up in terms of salaries.
El Mala’s personnel does not put 1. FC Köln under pressure
Türoff does not want to confirm that Said El Mala’s failed move to Brentford is responsible for the lack of external commitments so far. “That’s exactly what’s so important to understand,” says the 50-year-old: “If the entire squad planning were dependent on a single transfer, we would be under enormous pressure. That wouldn’t be a good starting point.”