Koln sign Mainz striker in club-record deal

 

Koln have announced they have signed John Cordoba from Bundesliga rivals Mainz in a club-record deal worth a reported €15m (£13.2m).

 

Cordoba, who will report to the first day of pre-season training with his new teammates on Monday, has put pen to paper on a four-year deal keeping him at the club until June 2021.

 

Peter Stoger’s side have never previously paid eight figures for a player and Cordoba’s arrival makes him the most expensive player in the club’s history, eclipsing their £9m deal for Lukas Podolski from Bayern Munich in 2009.

 

“1. FC Koln is the right step for me following two great years in Mainz,” Cordoba told Koln’s official website.

 

“The representatives of FC were very active in their pursuit of me and I wanted to take the opportunity to play for one of Germany’s great traditional clubs both in the league and in the Europa League.

 

“I was already able to experience the wonderful atmosphere of the RheinEnergieSTADION on the 34th matchday. I am looking forward to lining up there in the home kit.”

 

Koln sign Mainz striker in club-record deal

 

The 24-year-old has spent the last two years in Germany after Mainz opted to make his stay permanent last summer and he will now be looking to force his way into the Colombia national team squad ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

 

Cordoba, who will compete for a place up front with star striker Anthony Modeste, scored 10 goals in 51 matches for Mainz and Koln will be hopeful their new record signing can improve on that record.

 

Furthermore, only Dario Lezcano (136) was fouled more times in the Bundesliga last season than Cordoba (94).

 

For more stats on Jhon Cordoba, click here to visit his WhoScored player page