Change to the Bundesliga
A world champion goes: emotional words about the 96-party
08.07.2025 – 9:46 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Now it is official: goalkeeper Zieler leaves Hannover 96 and changes to his youth club 1. FC Köln. There he is planned as a second keeper.
The 2014 world champion Ron-Robert Zieler leaves Hannover 96 and returns to his youth club, the 1st FC Köln. The Bundesliga promoter officially confirmed the transfer on Monday evening. The 36 -year -old goalkeeper receives a two -year contract at FC.
The change of the Hanoverian captain is surprising. 96 Managing Director Marcus Mann said about the departure and said: “At the beginning of last week, Ron came up to me and has his thoughts with the advance associated with the associated path to go separate ways this summer. He was very open and explained everything in a comprehensible manner.” The planning was originally different.
Zieler has been under contract in Hanover since 2019 and had only extended his contract until 2026 in January. According to media reports, the transfer fee is around 200,000 euros. In Cologne he will act as the second goalkeeper behind Marvin Schwäbe.
Born in Cologne, he justified his change with the upheaval at Hannover 96: “This summer there is a big change. I thought a lot in the course of the course and had a lot of conversations with those responsible.” Now the club has the opportunity to make a clear and consistent cut – also with a view to the hierarchy in the team.
“I make no secret of the fact that it is incredibly difficult for me to leave 96,” wrote Zieler on the Hannover 96 website. This decision “of course does not change my connection to Hannover 96, which I will now feel and feel forever.”
The decisive factor for his decision was the offer of 1. FC Köln, which also offers him a perspective beyond the active career. For the destination, it is already the second return to Cologne. In the 2020/2021 season, he was loaned to FC.
The goalkeeper has not missed a single second division game in the past three years. Last season he was the most successful goalkeeper in the 2nd league with only 36 goals. In 2014, Zieler became the second replacement goalkeeper with the German national team world champion.
Hanover’s Managing Director Mann and 96 Manager Ralf Becker, according to the “Bild”, have their sights on a German U21 international. So Nahuel Noll could switch to Hanover.
The keeper stood in the goal at second division competitor Greuther Fürth last season and is one of the most promising goalkeeper talents in Germany. He is currently under contract with TSG Hoffenheim. Its market value is estimated from the data portal “Transfermarkt.de” to 1.8 million euros.