Ghana defender Gideon Mensah says FC Koln’s long-term plans persuaded him to join the Bundesliga club, despite attracting interest from a number of teams across Europe.
The 28-year-old left-back moved to Koln as a free agent after leaving French side AJ Auxerre. He has signed a contract with the German club that runs until June 2028.
Mensah’s transfer followed a strong showing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he started all four of Ghana’s matches.
Speaking to Flashscore, the Black Stars international said his choice was shaped by the club’s overall vision for his future rather than simply the profile of its league or its reputation.
“I had offers from so many clubs, most of them from European countries,” he said.
“But I chose Koln because when clubs contact you, you speak to them and then you get to know their projects and their intentions for you as a player.”
The defender said he assessed a range of issues before deciding where to continue his career. Those considerations included the ambitions of the club, the quality of life in the city and whether the move would provide the right conditions for his development.
“As a player, you also check things like whether it’s a good city for you, whether it’s a good club for you, whether the project is good for you, and whether you’re going to be comfortable playing there,” he said.
“I realised that Koln was the club with a good project for me as a player to continue my career after playing in France.”
Mensah spent four seasons with Auxerre, becoming a reliable first-choice option at left-back and helping the club win the Ligue 2 title in 2024.
Across his time in France, he made 114 appearances, including 85 in Ligue 1. During his final season, Mensah played 30 times in the French top flight and registered two assists as Auxerre ended the campaign in 15th place.
His move to Germany has already resulted in a Bundesliga appearance. Mensah made his debut for Koln in their 3-2 victory over Hoffenheim at the RheinEnergieSTADION.
He is expected to be involved again next weekend, when Koln travel to face VfB Stuttgart at the MHPArena.
Mensah’s arrival gives Koln an experienced international presence in defence, while the player has made clear that the club’s long-term project was central to his decision to join. His agreement with the Bundesliga side keeps him at the club until the end of June 2028.
