1. FC Köln 2025/26 season preview: Transfers, pre-season, predicted lineup & predictions | OneFootball

After returning back to the Bundesliga at the first time of asking, 1. FC Köln look to solidify their position in Germany's top flight for the long term under new coach Lukas Kwasniok.

Their last campaign was turbulent at times in the second tier with manager Gerhard Struber being sacked just two games before the end of the season before Friedhelm Funkel secured the club's top flight status in the final two fixtures.

The quest to survive in the Bundesliga begins away against Conference League side Mainz on Sunday 22nd August.

Pre-season performances

In their most recent friendly, Köln won a chaotic game 7-4 against Vitesse Arnheim from the second Dutch division.

Previous friendly results before this include a dire 2-2 draw against city rivals Fortuna Köln and 7-0 and 7-1 wins against non-league sides Siegburger SV and Bergisch Gladbach respectively.

Their most impressive win, however, came against recently relegated side Leicester City in which they won 3-1 and looked much the better side.

As of now, they remain undefeated in pre-season following their camp in Austria and have boosted the morale heading into the next campaign.

The biggest test for the Billy Goats is still to come with a match against previous Europa League winners Atalanta Bergamo on the 9th August.

Transfers

Newly appointed sporting director Thomas Kessler has been put in charge of transfers in the off-season.

There have been multiple in and outgoings for Köln this time out as both strikers Damion Downs and Tim Lemperle have left to join Southampton and Hoffenheim respectively.

Young talent Max Finkgräfe left to join fellow Bundesliga side RB Leipzig for €4 million and has been replaced by American Kristoffer Lund on a loan deal.

Striker Ragnar Ache and backup Marius Bülter have been acquired to fill in attacking gaps in squad depth whilst the defensive holes have been bandaged by signing backup keeper Ron-Robert Zieler and full back Sebastian Sebulonsen.

The midfield takes a new look with Tom Krauss joining from Mainz and both Jakub Kaminski (joining from Wolfsburg) and Ísak Jóhanessen (joining from Fortuna Düsseldorf) bolstering up holes left by departures from Dejan Ljubicic and Mathias Olesen.

Finally, Köln have extended the contracts of the El Mala brothers with both players staying until 2030 at the west German side.

Predicted starting line-up

4-3-3: Schwäbe - Sebulonsen , Hübers, Schmied, Paqarada - Jóhanessen, Martel, Krauss - Thielmann, Ache, Kaminski

Heading into the new campaign, the starting lineup will take quite a few changes under new coach Kwasniok.

A new look defence is expected with Sebastian Sebulonsen taking the right back position and being preferred over makeshift full-back Jan Thielmann. The German under-21 international will instead take his position further up the field.

The midfield will look a lot different with Ísak Jóhanessen joining from rivals Düsseldorf to partner both veteran Eric Martel and new signing Tom Krauss in midfield.

Former Wolfsburg winger Jakub Kaminski will battle for the left wing spot with Linton Maina all season. However, the striker spot looks a more nailed on certainty with Ragnar Ache making the number nine position his own.

Predictions for the upcoming season

Köln will no doubt struggle at times this season and there may be points in the season where it looks like the Billy Goats will return back to the 2. Bundesliga.

However, due to a strong core of Bundesliga professionals like Dominique Heintz and Marvin Schwäbe it would be foolish to suggest that the club that lies on the river Rhine would not be able to make it at least to the 15th spot.

Mixing this with exciting talented transfers like Ragnar Ache and twenty-four-year-old Tom Krauss from Mainz and it looks like a recipe for a solid Bundesliga-ready squad.

This rings especially true when looking at the clubs around them like St. Pauli and Heidenheim who struggled massively last season and will take fiercer competition this campaign in staying up.