BILD: FC Cologne close to signing Ghana World Cup star Gideon Mensah on free transfer

Published Jul 8, 03:22 PM UTC

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1. FC Köln is close to completing the signing of Ghanaian left-back Gideon Mensah (27) on a free transfer, according to BILD. Mensah, who impressed at the 2026 World Cup before Ghana's Round of 32 exit to Colombia, has agreed to join the Bundesliga club. His contract with French Ligue 1 side Auxerre expired this summer, making him available without a transfer fee. The final details are expected to be clarified by the weekend. Mensah is seen as an immediate starter under coach René Wagner, filling a long-standing gap on the left side of defense. He brings experience from 108 Ligue 1 appearances and can play in both a back four and as a wing-back. The signing follows Cologne's recent acquisition of center-back Luka Lochoshvili, resolving two key defensive issues within a week. Mensah will likely take a break before joining training due to his World Cup participation.

Source report

Cologne – 1. FC Köln is on the verge of making a major statement in the transfer market. The club is close to securing World Cup defender Gideon Mensah (27), who has reportedly given his approval to join Köln, according to BILD information. Final transfer details are expected to be clarified by the weekend, with Mensah set to become a Köln player.

The signing would resolve two of Köln's biggest defensive problem areas within a single week. Last Thursday, the club signed Luka Lochoshvili (28) as its first external arrival, ending a lengthy search for a suitable center-back. Now Mensah is poised to fill the final gap on the left side of defense — a problem position where numerous players had to fill in last season despite not being originally planned for that role.

Mensah has been in contact with Köln for some time, after allowing his contract with French Ligue 1 club Auxerre to expire this summer following four years, making him available on a free transfer. Final talks only gained momentum after Ghana's World Cup exit in the Round of 32 against Colombia (0-1) and are now nearing completion.

Mensah (r.) in his last World Cup game against Colombia (0-1). The match ended in the Round of 32. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

Mensah an Immediate Starting Candidate

The Ghanaian is expected to be an immediate candidate for the starting lineup under head coach René Wagner (37), not least due to his strong World Cup performance. Mensah brings experience from 108 Ligue 1 appearances to FC and is expected to be deployable both in a back four and as a wing-back in a system with a three-man defense.

Key attributes:

Outstanding tackling strength
Exceptional pace on the left flank
Ability to combine with Castro-Montes (right side) to give Wagner powerful options on both wings

One caveat: Even if the signing is completed quickly, Mensah is unlikely to immediately join Köln training due to his World Cup participation. He will first take a break before reporting to the club.

Content shown outside its original language is machine translated; summaries may also be condensed.

Source

BILD - SportWestern

Original headline: FC-Transfer vor Abschluss - Ghana-Star Mensah sagt Köln zu

Original language: DE

Part of this Story

FC Cologne Signs Ghanaian Left-Back Gideon Mensah on Free Transfer

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