Ghana international Gideon Mensah is closing in on a move to German Bundesliga side 1. FC Köln, with the two parties said to have already agreed personal terms on a free transfer.
The 27-year-old left-back has been a free agent since his contract with French Ligue 1 side Auxerre expired on June 30, and negotiations with Köln — briefly paused during Ghana’s World Cup campaign — have gathered pace now that the Black Stars’ tournament run has ended.
Mensah’s standout performances for Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he played every minute of the team’s campaign, sharpened interest in his signature. Beyond Köln, Bundesliga rivals FC Schalke 04 also opened advanced talks in recent days, while Turkish clubs and Portuguese giants Benfica had made earlier approaches.
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At Köln, Mensah is viewed as the direct replacement for Kristoffer Lund, the Denmark international whose loan spell from Palermo has ended. The club has earmarked the left-back position as a priority as it looks to build a more competitive squad for the 2026/27 season, following a 14th-placed finish in their first campaign back in the top flight.
An official announcement is expected once the deal is finalized in the coming days.