The transfer windows of the biggest leagues in Europe closed on Friday evening. For 1. FC Köln, this means that the discarded players have only a few options left to leave this summer.
Three players at 1. FC Köln have not found a new club this summer. Marvin Schwäbe and the FC both gambled on the goalkeeper’s role on the international transfer market. In addition, Nikola Soldo is still looking for a new club. Maximilan Schmid is allowed to stay in the U21s, but actually no longer sees himself in the regional league and is allowed to leave.
There aren’t many options left. Germany, France, Italy, Spain and England have all closed their transfer gates. This means that the biggest players on the international transfer market are out. Interesting leagues in Europe such as Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands are still open. Portugal and Turkey can also still do something. But will the FC players find buyers there?
Natural options for FC trio
Soldo could hope to return to his homeland, from where he came to Cologne in the summer of 2022. In Croatia, the transfer market closes on September 5th. Schmid could go to the Netherlands again, where the window closes on September 2nd. Schwäbe has already played in Denmark, where the transfer deadline will also be September 2nd. Three natural options for the FC trio. But what else?
The leagues in Norway, Portugal and Saudi Arabia close on September 2nd. In Austria, the season ends on September 5th, in Belgium and Poland a day later. Switzerland is giving its clubs until September 9th, Greece until September 11th, Turkey until September 13th. Is it possible that these clubs have waited until now to find out how big their transfer budget will really be, as long as the clubs in the top leagues have been able to use them?
Market has become smaller and less attractive
It is not impossible that something will happen at FC. At least Soldo and Schmid could attract interest in the smaller leagues. For Schwäbe, however, the market for goalkeepers was already difficult this summer. Now it has become considerably smaller and less attractive.
And then there are the players who could still be considering a loan. Marvin Obuz, after he was not even substituted against Braunschweig. Meiko Wäschenbach, who has not even played yet. Elias Bakatukanda, who needs to gain match practice in the U21s and whose position Luca Kilian is due to return in the autumn. Their options have also shrunk, although they are still there.
These four FC professionals left the club
If none of the FC players can find a club, there would only be four departures after relegation this summer. Jeff Chabot and Justin Diehl moved to VfB Stuttgart, while the contracts of Benno Schmitz (now Grasshoppers) and Davie Selke (now HSV) were not renewed.
