1. FC Cologne
According to Kwasniok announcement: these professionals fly out of the squad
16.08.2025 – 4:45 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
The transfer offensive should follow several departures at the 1st FC Köln. Lukas Kwasniok’s first matchday squad shows who it could hit.
With eleven new additions, the 1. FC Köln has increased for the Bundesliga, but spent more than 20 million euros. Now it becomes clear who the victims of the great upheaval are. When the billy goats left for the cup game at SSV Jahn Regensburg on Saturday afternoon, several seasoned professionals had to stay at home.
Among other things, Dominique Heintz, Denis Huseinbasic and Learst Pacarada, who had all been a regular in the promotion season, did not make it into the squad of coach Lukas Kwasniok. In addition, the Imad Rondic and Jacob Christensen, who had not been taken into account, and Julian Pauli and Luca Kilian, who still have training behind after injuries, were not nominated.
At the press conference on Friday, Kwasniok had already announced: “25 field players are too much. We are in the process of restricting the squad in one place or another.” In this respect, it was eagerly awaited which 20 actors he would nominate for the first competitive game of the season in Regensburg (Sunday, 3:30 p.m.). In the contingent, “tendencies would be recognized,” said Kwasniok.
The players not taken into account know that they are facing a difficult season if they stay in Cologne. “You have to see to what extent a solution is possible or whether players XY, who was not in the squad, borne back,” said Kwasniok – knowing that after eleven newcomers there are also departures: “We have to open the players openly and honestly the perspective and talk about possible borrowing or contract dissolutions.”
Huseinbasic was last traded in the Portuguese first division club SC Braga, Pacarada at the English second division club Bristol City, trained by ex-FC coach Gerhard Struber. Weeks ago, the people of Cologne had ordered other reservists such as Sargis Adamyan and Florian Dietz as well as the Youngsters Neo Telle and Emin Kujovic, who are to be awarded, to the U21. And yet there are still 25 players in professional training, which means “a lot of wood” for Kwasniok.
The trainer now set a clear sign by immediately called all the new additions – including the Rav van den Berg and Cenk Özkacar, who were only committed a few days ago – instead of routiners such as Heintz and Pacarada, who took part in the entire preparation. They are the new ones that are familiar with the Kwasniok.
Defense: Jusuf Gazibegovic, Sebastian Sebulonsen – Timo Hübers, Cenk Özkacar, Joel Schmied, Rav van den Berg – Kristoffer Lund