Following on from under-17 World Cup winner, Fayssal Harchaoui 1. FC Köln have also extended the contract of talented defender, Julian Pauli. The 18-year-old, who won the DFB-Pokal der Junioren in the 2022-23 season, has signed a long-term first-team contract.
FC Managing Director, Christian Keller said: “Julian has a lot of qualities to become a really good centre-back. His robust nature, his pace, his tackling and especially his mentality make for plenty of positive thoughts surrounding his development in the future. We are really pleased that we’ll be working together with Julian to make those thoughts a reality and to help realise his breakthrough into the first-team.”
Julian Pauli said: “I am really happy to have signed my first professional deal at 1. FC Köln. Three years ago, I came to FC from Borussia Dortmund and felt at home straight away. I might have grown up in Düsseldorf but I feel like a real Kölner now. The city and the club fit very well to how I am. I want to continue to develop and progress in training with hard work to, someday, play in the RheinEnergieSTADION. That is my goal.”
Julian Pauli was born on 18th July 2005 in London before moving to Germany with his parents at the age of five. He grew up in Düsseldorf and was at Fortuna’s academy before moving to Borussia Dortmund. In 2021, he made the step from BVB to 1. FC Köln and the under-17 side. In the 2022-23 season, he won the DFB-Pokal der Junioren with the under-19s.
Pauli has played for Germany’s under-16s and the perspective under-17 team. At FC, Pauli has made 16 appearances in the B-Junioren-Bundesliga West, 26 in the A-Junioren-Bundesliga West and featured in the German Championship finals against Mainz as well. This season, he made his debut in the Regionalliga West.