Which Players Look Likely to Leave 1. FC Köln in the summer?

Julian Chabot

Julian Chabot has been the best player under both Steffen Baumgart and Timo Schultz for the side this season. With the fourth most blocks this season in the Bundesliga and the third highest aerial win percentage, Chabot is a solid option for many Bundesliga clubs.

Not only this, but he has a low release clause of €5 million (with add ons) if the side from Müngersdorf do indeed get relegated which will make him a prime candidate and a low risk option for most mid table or European hopeful sides.

Mark Uth

The thirty-two-year-old will be automatically released from the club in the case of relegation (according to Patrick Berger (Sky Germany)) due to a clause in his contract.

Despite this, he has been riddled with injuries throughout his time at Köln and may even potentially consider retiring after this season as the market for such a player may be limited.

It remains to be seen what will happen with Uth and if any clubs are interested in him, but almost certainly he will leave the club if they go down.

Luca Waldschmidt

When Köln signed Luca Waldschmidt on loan from VfL Wolfsburg in the summer, it seemed like the right step for the ex-Germany international to take in order to attempt to revive his career.

However, through injuries and disappointing performances, Waldschmidt has not really hit the ground running at the carnival club. Since the breakout campaign at Freiburg over five years ago, the twenty-seven-year-old has not really progressed and looks to return to a club without the potential of a future there.

Due to the nature of his loan, Luca Waldschmidt will return to Wolfsburg as Köln are unable to buy him and the player does not wish to play football in the second tier.
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Davie Selke

Davie Selke has been just about the only attacking player with any major goal threat for the Billy Goats this season. Having joined in 2023, Selke has since signed an extension at the club and has netted six goals in the Bundesliga this campaign in an injury-riddled season.

Despite this, due to a clause in his contract, the player is able to leave the club in the summer on a free if they do indeed get relegated as he will be released.

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Marvin Schwäbe

This is perhaps the least certain inclusion out of all the aforementioned players. Schwäbe, who has over-performed the entire season at the Billy Goats has been excellent and has an incredible save total with 104 saves this campaign (more than twenty over last season's tally (albeit Köln were better defensively last campaign).

In games against Darmstadt earlier this campaign and against both Augsburg and Stuttgart in the season's Rückrunde, Schwäbe has kept his team within the points by saving his side from defeat or a loss.

Despite not having a known release clause in the case of relegation, it is fair to suggest that Köln's goalkeeper is simply too good for the 2. Bundesliga.

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