Damion Downs before contract extension - does he stay at FC Köln?

Damion Downs before contract extension - does he stay at FC Köln?

The future of 1. FC Köln is in the stars, especially when it comes to the Talent Damion Downs. The only 20-year-old striker, the last season with 10 goals and 5 templates contributed to the rise of FC, has a contract until 2026, but Cologne is on the scabbard. Image offered. Cologne plans a comprehensive offer that includes both sporting and financial perspectives. Kessler sincerely hopes that Downs will accept the offer while the player in the USA trains for an international match against Switzerland.

But the way for the young star Cologne could be bumpy. Numerous other clubs have already presented lucrative offers, including clubs from Italy. The competitive pressure in the squad has increased by the obligation of Ragnar Ache, who scored an impressive 18 goals in the past second division season. And not only that: rumors about the commitment of another top striker are circulating. Downs faces the important decision as to whether he is willing to assert himself in the fight for a place in the starting XI.

a promising generation of young people

The 1st FC Köln has committed itself to promoting talent. The obligation of Downs almost three years ago, at that time for a six -figure sum from FC Ingolstadt, was a clever move. Kessler and coach Steffen Baumgart rely on a gradual development of young talents to establish them in the long term as a Bundesliga player. Downs, which is one of the most hopeful players, is not only there: other talents such as Justin Diehl and Elias Bakatukanda are also firmly in the training squad.

The successes of the U19 team, which recently won the DFB Cup, increase the attractiveness of the association for young players. These successes are not the first for FC: the 2013 DFB Cup and the German U17 Championship 2019 have already been won in recent years. A success like this ensures that the talents continue to flock to Cologne and that a new generation comes together.

The challenges on the talent market

The DFB talent promotion program plays an important role in German football. In Germany there are 339 bases that give talented players the chance to be promoted. Around 14,000 players in the best learning age are trained and individually trained, with 1,200 qualified coaches securing the funding. The training focuses on bringing out strong and creative footballers, which ultimately benefits from the 1. FC Köln.

For downs, it remains to be seen where he will be in the coming season. The next few weeks will be exciting whether he opts for Cologne or follows one of the numerous offers from other clubs. However, one thing is certain: the pressure is growing, and the decisions must be carefully considered - after all, Downs wants to play regularly and not just sit on the bench.