Ghana left-back Gideon Mensah joins FC Köln on free transfer

Ghanaian international left‑back Gideon Mensah has signed a free‑transfer deal with Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln. The 27‑year‑old defender left AJ Auxerre after his contract expired on 30 June 2026 and agreed a two‑year contract with Cologne until June 2028, taking the number 14 shirt.

Köln’s managing director Thomas Kessler said the club had been monitoring Mensah for a long time and valued his international experience, noting his strong performances in France last season and at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he played every minute as Ghana reached the round of 32 before losing 1‑0 to Colombia.

Mensah’s career includes 114 competitive appearances for Auxerre (85 in Ligue 1), spells with Red Bull Salzburg’s feeder team, and loan periods in Austria, Belgium, Portugal and France. He earned 44 caps for Ghana and is expected to add defensive stability and tactical discipline to Köln’s back line as the club prepares for the 2026/27 Bundesliga campaign.