While the second division men of 1. FC Köln are still looking for a striker, the Bundesliga women have already found their new attacker: On Tuesday, the billy goats announced the signing of Amélie Delabre. The 24-year-old Frenchwoman is moving from Belgian champions RSC Anderlecht to Cologne and has signed a contract until the summer of 2027.
Sports director Nicole Bender-Rummler is looking forward to a “dangerous striker” who has “an incredible will to win”. Delabre herself “wants to help the team with my goals” and “have a different experience in another country,” she said. With the transfer to Cologne she is leaving her “comfort zone”, but: “It was an easy decision – I see the club and the project and think that it suits me very well.”
After tough transfer negotiations, 1. FC Köln made their second signing this winter on Monday. Joël Schmied is reportedly moving from FC Sion to Geißbockheim for around two and a half million euros. The central defender has signed a contract with the second division club until 2029.
“With his athletic and technical-tactical skills, Joël fits our requirements profile very well. At FC Sion, he has also been a captain and a very good communicator on and off the field. We are pleased that Joël will be able to do all of this in training and in the games at FC and raise the competition in this position to another level,” says FC managing director Christian Keller.
The 26-year-old himself says of his decision: “Moving to FC is pure motivation for me. I am very happy that after my successful time at FC Sion, I can now take my next career step in Cologne, with this great, traditional club. Those responsible gave me a very good feeling right from the start and fought for my commitment. I thought that was outstanding and from now on I will do everything to repay the trust and belief in my sporting abilities on the pitch looking forward to the first units with the team and can hardly wait to play for the first time with the billy goat on my chest.”
After returning from the training camp in Estepona, Spain, and a weekend off, 1. FC Köln will start preparing for the away game at Hamburger SV on Monday (Saturday, 8:30 p.m.). At the first session of the week, at 2.30 p.m. in the Franz Kremer Stadium, a second winter addition, Joël Schmied, could be on the pitch. The dress rehearsal before the start of the second half of the season follows on Tuesday afternoon, also in the Franz Kremer Stadium. Third division team Viktoria Köln will be guests at Geißbockheim at 2 p.m.