Midfielder Özcan moves from Cologne to Dortmund

Created: 05/23/2022, 11:02 am

Cologne's Salih Özcan is on the ball. © Marius Becker/dpa/archive image

Borussia Dortmund has signed the Turkish national football player Salih Özcan from 1. FC Köln.

The 24-year-old has received a contract with the Revierclub until June 30, 2026, as BVB announced on Monday.

Dortmund - "He's an extremely strong player in one-on-one combat and headers.

Someone who goes where it hurts and does everything uncompromisingly to ensure that his team is successful," said Dortmund's designated sports director Sebastian Kehl.

"His mentality and physique, paired with his game intelligence, will do our team good."

Özcan was born in Cologne and has played for FC since he was young.

The midfielder made 31 appearances for Cologne in the Bundesliga last season and scored two goals.

In 2021 he became European champion with the German U21.

"I would only have left my city for very few clubs," said Özcan.

"Borussia Dortmund's energy, which you can literally feel, plus the opportunity to play regularly in the Champions League, ultimately led me to my decision." After Niklas Süle (FC Bayern Munich), Nico Schlotterbeck (SC Freiburg) and Karim Adeyemi (RB Salzburg), Özcan is Dortmund's fourth new signing for the coming season.

dpa