1. FC Köln continue to work on their squad. After Benno Schmitz extended his contract with the Cologne team until 2024, the club is planning another long-term cooperation. FC has extended the contract with goalkeeper Matthias Köbbing until June 30, 2023. The 24-year-old, who was born in Koblenz, received a license player contract with the Cologne team for the first time.

FC license player manager Thomas Kessler explained the reasons for the contract extension: “Köbbes performs well in our goalkeeper team and thus ensures a consistently high level of training. He is also an important contact for our young players. In this way, he has developed into a full member of our licensed team.”

Koebbing himself is happy “to be part of a Bundesliga team and to develop every day in training with Uwe Gospodarek and my goalkeeper colleagues. It’s a great opportunity. I feel very comfortable in the goalkeeper group, but also in the whole team. I’m very grateful for that and give it my all every day.”

At the age of 13, Köbbing switched to TSG Hoffenheim, where he continued his training until 2016. After stints at 1. FC Heidenheim and FC 08 Homburg, the goalkeeper was signed as the second keeper for the regional league team at 1. FC Köln in 2020. In his first year, he also switched to being the goalkeeping coach for the U16s, before moving to the pros as a training goalkeeper in winter 2021.