From the summer of 2024, 1. FC Köln can apparently invest significantly more money in newcomers.
As “Bild” reports, the current transfer period is the last in which the Bundesliga club from the cathedral city has to commit to a strict austerity course.
Background: In the coming year, 1. FC Köln will finally leave the financially extremely drastic time of the corona pandemic behind.
At that time, the club was threatened with insolvency due to a loss of sales of 85 million euros. Among other things, the former club boss Alexander Wehrle had to bring forward future sponsorship income in order to ensure survival.
Even then, those responsible in Cologne were aware of the consequences for the transfer plans in the years to come.
According to managing director Christian Keller, from the 2024/2025 season all income will end up back in their own coffers. “That expands our scope for action,” confirmed the 44-year-old.
This summer, too, the people of Cologne are baking small rolls when it comes to transfers. 2.5 million euros went to Sampdoria Genoa for the permanent commitment of loan player Julian Chabot.
Jacob Christensen (FC Nordsjaelland), Leart Paqarada (FC St. Pauli) and youth goalkeeper Jonas Nickisch (RB Leipzig) came on a free transfer. In addition, Luca Waldschmidt (VfL Wolfsburg) was loaned out.
1. FC Köln with place 7 and 11 under Steffen Baumgart
On the income side, Ondrej Duda’s fixed departure to his previous loan club Hellas Verona for 2.7 million euros is on the books.
Despite the financial constraints, Cologne had recently done well in sport under coach Steffen Baumgart. Seventh place and qualification for the Conference League in Baumgart’s debut season 2021/2022 was followed by eleventh place in the past season.
At the end of May, 1. FC Köln was able to avert a transfer ban by FIFA for the time being. It was about alleged irregularities in the commitment of the Slovenian storm talent Jaka Cuber Potocnik in January 2022.