FC KÖLN NEWS

Noah Katterbach - Suffers ACL tear Katterbach suffered a torn ACL while on loan with Hamburger and returned to Koln.

Impact Katterbach has returned to Koln to continue his recovery, though he is reportedly still sought after by Hamburger for a permanent move. With Jonas Hector retiring Katterbach could be an option for the starting role at left-back when he recovers from the knee injury.

JULY 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mark Uth - Active in full team training Uth (groin) was active in full team training Friday, Bild.de reports.

Impact Uth returned to full team training after spending eight months working back from a serious groin injury. The forward is now targeting a return for the opening of the 2023-24 Bundesliga after making significant strides in his recovery.

JULY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sargis Adamyan - Goal, assist in friendly Adamyan started and provided a goal and assist during Saturday's friendly against Gornik Zabrze.

Impact Adamyan scored and assisted during a friendly tournament. The midfielder finished the 2022-23 season on the sideline due to a foot injury, but opened the first pre-season friendly in the starting XI. The midfielder's role is uncertain heading into 2023-24, but it seems he will have a full pre-season to try and earn a spot in the first team.

JULY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Timo Hubers - Extends Koln deal Hubers extended his contract with Koln through the 2025-26 campaign, the club announced Thursday.

Impact Hubers took a major step forward in 2022-23, and is now set to be a part of the back line for two more seasons at least. The center-back has been exceptional in a strong defense and will likely build on the 29 appearances (28 starts) he totaled in 2022-23.

JULY 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jan Thielmann - Out two months Thielmann (strain) will be out for two-to-three months, manager Steffen Baumgart told reporters Friday.

Impact Thielmann picked up the injury while training with the German U21 national team and is now expected to be out multiple months. Thielmann failed to establish a major role in 2022-23. The winger will miss the entirety of pre-season and could be out until October depending on his recovery.

JULY 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Marvin Schwabe - Extends contract with Koln Schwabe has signed a four-year contract extension with FC Koln, the club announced Wednesday.

Impact Schwabe has kept nine clean sheets in 55 Bundesliga games since taking over from Timo Horn as Koln's starting goalkeeper in November 2021, and the 28-year-old has now signed on to remain at the club through the 2026/27 campaign.

JUNE 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mark Uth - Spotted in training Uth (groin) was spotted in training Monday, BILD reports.

Impact Uth has been sidelined for over a year with a groin issue that limited him to just three appearances in 2022-23. The forward reportedly contemplated retirement but has made strides towards a return. It's unclear if he will be ready for the 2023-24 pre-season, or what his timeline looks like to get back to competitive play.

JUNE 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mark Uth - Kicking ball without pain Uth (groin) is kicking the ball and recovering without pain, the player announced via Instagram.

Impact Uth missed the closing stages of the 2022/23 season and is expected to miss the earliest stages of pre-season due to the groin injury. The forward is working to avoid pain, though set-backs mean this injury is one that won't be rushed after more than six months on the sideline.

JUNE 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Luca Waldschmidt - Loaned to Koln Waldschmidt has joined FC Koln on a season-long loan from Wolfsburg, the club announced Tuesday.

Impact Waldschmidt was a fairly effective impact substitute with Wolfsburg last season, tallying four goals in 18 Bundesliga appearances (four starts). The 27-year-old forward is now moving on-loan to Koln for next season, where he will be competing with Davie Selke, Linton Maina and Steffen Tigges for a starting spot either up front or on the right wing.

JUNE 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Marco Hoger - Returning to Koln with youth side Hoger has signed a one-year contract with FC Koln's u-21 team after transferring from Waldhof Mannheim, the club announced Wednesday.

Impact Hoger posted seven goals and 11 assists across 127 appearances in all competitions for Koln from 2016-21, and the 33-year-old midfielder is now returning to the club with the reserve side after spending a few seasons in the 3. Bundesliga with Waldhof Mannheim.

JUNE 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tim Lemperle - Plays minimal role Lemperle made 12 appearances (no starts) during the 2022/23 Bundesliga.

Impact Lemperle is still looking for his first Bundesliga start as he made 12 appearances for a second consecutive season. The forward was held entirely off the scoresheet and failed to put a shot on goal. With Davie Selke and Linton Maina both competing for a spot in the starting XI it's hard to see a path to playing time for Lemperle.

JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Luca Kilian - Ends on bench Kilian spent the closing stages of the Bundesliga on the bench but made 16 appearances on the season as a whole.

Impact Kilian opened the season as a consistent starter but was relegated to the bench after a muscular injury. The defender faces competition from Julian Chabot, who had his loan made permanent. Kilian heads into pre-season looking to build off 46 clearances, 22 tackles and 11 interceptions in 13 starts (16 appearances.)

JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Kingsley Schindler - Plays depth role Schindler made 29 appearances (eight starts) and assisted once during the 2022/23 Bundesliga.

Impact Schindler played a major role off the bench with 29 appearances and sent in 45 crosses. The midfielder saw appearances in the defense while also occasionally seeing play in the attack. Schindler's role off the bench is likely to continue with Linton Maina and Florian Kainz still taking significant roles in attacking midfield.

JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Kristian Pedersen - Sees role dwindle Pedersen made just six appearances (three starts) during the 2022/23 Bundesliga.

Impact Pedersen was an unused option more often than not to open the season, but saw occasional use as a rotational option. The defender wasn't able to maintain that role and fell entirely out of favor following a lengthy injury. The full-back could see much larger role moving forward following the retirement of Jonas Hector.

JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Julian Chabot - Completes permanent move Chabot's move to Koln was made permanent after Koln activated the option to buy from Sampdoria.

Impact Chabot finished his first season in Koln with 21 appearances, all starts, in a major role. The center-back partner Timo Hubers throughout the season and earned a permanent move to the Billy Goats. The defender will hope to build an even more consistent role in pre-season after compiling 102 clearances and 41 interceptions in the 2022/23 Bundesliga.

JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jan Thielmann - Fails to break out Thielmann made 23 appearances (six starts) in the 2022/23 Bundesliga, scoring twice.

Impact Thielmann made just six starts as he failed to truly break out for the fourth season. What was especially disappointing is that his playing time actually was a step back of seasons past. Thielmann has had bags of potential throughout his time with Koln but managed just two goals and two assists on 13 shots and will need a strong pre-season to break into the starting XI.

JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Linton Maina - Breaks out with Koln Maina scored three goals and assisted seven times during the 2022/23 Bundesliga.

Impact Maina had a true breakout season during the 2022/23 Bundesliga, contributing to 10 goals and taking a major role in the starting XI. The forward established himself with Mark Uth sidelined and never looked back, producing early and often in the starting XI. Maina will build on this role alongside Steffen Tigges in the 2023/24 pre-season.

JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Denis Huseinbasic - Scores four goals Huseinbasic scored four times and assisted once while making 24 appearances (seven starts) in the 2022/23 Bundesliga.

Impact Huseinbasic made his debut with Koln and had a productive season largely off the bench. While he only contributed to five goals he saw very limited playing time, scoring all four of his shots on goal. Huseinbasic will hope to secure a bigger role in the starting XI during pre-season.

JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Timo Hubers - Takes step forward Hubers made 29 appearances (28 starts) scoring a career-high three goals from center-back in the 2022/23 Bundesliga.

Impact Hubers took a major step forward, establishing himself as a nailed-on starter in central defense. The defender tallied career-highs across the board with 149 clearances, three goals, and 58 interceptions. Across the board it was a career-year from Hubers, who will hope to continue this major role in pre-season.

JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Florian Dietz - Ends season on shelf Dietz made 11 appearances (four starts) before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the Bundesliga.

Impact Dietz started the season with a consistent role off the bench and rotationally. The forward returned to individual training in May and will hope to make a full recovery before the pre-season kicks off.

JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Benno Erik Schmitz - Maintains major role Schmitz made 31 appearances (30 starts) during the 2022/23 Bundesliga.

Impact Schmitz made 31 appearances tying his 2021/22 return, but failed to get on the scoresheet with an assist. The full-back did add a first career Bundesliga goal on just two shots on goal. Schmitz will remain a consistent starter heading into pre-season and will face little competition for his spot in the first team.

JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Davie Selke - Ends season in rich form Selke scored five times in 17 appearances (12 starts) since joining Koln.

Impact Selke joined Koln from Hertha and was a quiet contributor to start. In the closing stages of the Bundesliga he found some stellar form including four goals in the final seven matches. Selke will be back with Koln but will face major competition for a role in the starting XI in 2023/24. Steffen Tigges and Linton Maina will both offer competition to lead the line in pre-season.

JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Marvin Schwabe - Two saves in defeat Schwabe made two saves and allowed two goals in Saturday's 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich.

Impact Schwabe faced four shots and stopped two of them during Saturday's loss. The goalkeeper played every single match in the Bundesliga in 2022/2023, truly taking the starting role from Timo Horn. Schwabe made 79 saves and conceded 54 goals during the 34 matches while earning six clean sheets. A leaky defense limited some of his upside but Schwabe will likely open the pre-season as the starter.

MAY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Eric Martel - Eight tackles against Munich Martel generated one shot (zero on goal) and one cross (zero accurate) in Saturday's 2-1 defeat versus Bayern Munich.

Impact Martel made eight tackles and five interceptions in another stellar showing during Saturday's loss. The defensive midfielder has been a brilliant replacement for Salih Ozcan in the starting XI and has done very well to partner Ellyes Skhiri. Martel was handed a major role and handled it admirably, totaling 66 tackles and 33 interceptions while scoring and assisting.

MAY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Florian Kainz - Shut down in loss Kainz generated two shots (zero on goal), seven crosses (two accurate) and five corners in Saturday's 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich.

Impact Kainz ended the season off the scoresheet, shooting twice and creating a chance. The attacking midfielder sent in seven crosses and maintained his roles on set-pieces. Kainz ends the Bundesliga with six goals and 10 assists, a new high in both regards and goal contributions. Kainz also sent in a new career-high of 152 corners as he took a lion's share of the set-pieces.

MAY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE