German-born Ghanaian rising star Justin Diehl has taken the training grounds of FC Köln by storm, joining the Bundesliga team's first training session of the new year.
At just 19 years old, Diehl is already regarded as a gem among FC Köln's pool of talents. However, despite his evident promise, Diehl's future with the club seems uncertain, as he has chosen not to extend his commitment beyond the summer of 2024.
Diehl's decision has raised eyebrows, especially considering his potential and the positive impression he has left during his time with FC Köln.
Yet, the young talent envisions a different path for himself, one that doesn't align with the future plans of the club. Former coach Baumgart took a pragmatic stance in response, opting not to accelerate Diehl's integration into the first team. This move aimed to keep the team's team flexible for players with whom Cologne can forge long-term plans.
“We spoke to him and his family and sorted out a few things,” said managing director Christian Keller about the striker's start to training.
Other clubs have already prepared for the possibility of a free transfer signing after the season. VfB Stuttgart is one of them: according to Kicker, the Swabians have already begun discussions.