After a horror injury against BVB
“It hits us hard”: 1. FC Köln announces Hübers’ diagnosis
October 26, 2025 – 1:34 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
As expected, 1. FC Köln will have to be without Timo Hübers for months. The central defender will undergo surgery on Monday.
“We’re hoping that it’s going to be relatively unscathed, but it looks very, very modest.” Lukas Kwasniok was still hoping for a small miracle on Saturday evening – for an injury that wouldn’t force Timo Hübers to watch for months. However, those responsible at 1. FC Cologne didn’t really believe that there would be an all-clear after the bitter 1-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund. And the fears have now been confirmed.
On Sunday afternoon, FC announced that, as expected, Hübers had suffered “a serious knee injury”. The billy goats did not publish a more precise diagnosis, but it can be assumed that the 29-year-old is at risk of ending the season. Already on Monday, Hübers will be seen by team doctor Dr. Peter Schäferhoff – a knee specialist – undergoes surgery.
Hübers had unfortunately twisted his knee in a duel with Serhou Guirassy in Dortmund’s Signal-Iduna-Park in the 82nd minute of the game and immediately fell to the ground screaming. The TV images suggested that his kneecap had popped out and dislocated. Hübers was crying in pain, his teammates could hardly look.
After the final whistle, the central defender was driven by ambulance from the Dortmund stadium to the MediaPark Clinic in Cologne. Hübers spent the night there and was examined in detail by the FC team doctors over the course of Sunday. An MRI scan delivered devastating results.
FC sports director Thomas Kessler says: “It was clear from the situation itself that it didn’t mean anything good for Timo. The diagnosis hits us all hard, especially him.” But Kessler also adds hopefully: “He fought his way back onto the pitch twice after serious injuries when he was young – and we are sure that he will go his way this time too.”
Hübers tore his cruciate ligament twice at his former club Hannover 96 – in his right knee in 2016 and his left in 2018. Now the right side is damaged again, although it remains unclear which ligaments are affected this time. Kessler explains: “Timo has great inner strength and a remarkable mentality that will get him through these phases. We as the FC family stand close by his side, support him every step of the way and wish him a lot of strength and the fastest possible recovery.”
What makes the situation even more bitter: Hübers’ contract expires at the end of the season. The injury makes it virtually impossible for him to recommend himself for a new working paper. However, it is likely that those responsible around Kessler will still extend the expiring contract – so that top performer Hübers at FC can regain the strength he demonstrated on Saturday evening in Dortmund.
Just a week ago, the defender said he could “very well imagine” an extension in Cologne. The Hildesheim native has been playing for FC since 2021 and has been a regular starter almost throughout. Last season, the Billy Goats extended Luca Kilian’s expiring contract after he tore his cruciate ligament again. While Kilian even suffered a third cruciate ligament tear, Hübers is hoping for no further bad news.