1. FC Cologne: Bayern Munich is watching FC talent Ben Nwachukwu

Thursday, June 18, 2026

After his contract with 1. FC Köln ended, Dominique Heintz found a new club – and not every fan will like it. Because the central defender is moving to Fortuna Düsseldorf, one of the Billy Goats’ arch-rivals. In Düsseldorf, the veteran should be a pillar in the rebuilding after relegation to the 3rd league.

Heintz receives a two-year contract with the option for another season. He was convinced by the conversations with manager Samir Arabi and trainer Alexander Ende as well as the fact that he and his family could stay in the Rhineland. The 32-year-old Heintz played for 1. FC Köln for six years, with a break.

There has been an acute shortage of space at 1. FC Cologne for years, and the expansion of the Geißbockheim has stalled. Is improvement finally in sight? As hoped by those responsible for the association, the SPD parliamentary group is submitting an application to the city council that will provide a timely remedy. We are talking about the so-called satellite space model.

At the FC’s expense, three existing pitches in and around the Geißbockheim are to be modernized and also opened for popular sports. “In view of the ongoing lack of sports areas in Cologne, it is important to us to use existing potential pragmatically now instead of waiting for lengthy new construction projects,” says a statement from the SPD. Now they are hoping for a majority in the city council. “With this decision, the council would send a clear signal for pragmatic and sustainable sports development in Cologne.”

• Geißbockheim: Negotiation canceled – because of insects
• Expansion of the Geissbockheim: “A totally important topic for our future”

FC managing director Philipp Türoff “expressly” welcomes the SPD’s initiative and says: “It is a pragmatic compromise and creates a real win-win situation: As 1. FC Cologne, we are using our own money to upgrade outdated municipal sports facilities.” At the same time, popular sports also benefit.