FC sign Luka Lochoshvili

1. FC Köln have signed Luka Lochosvili as the first signing of the summer transfer window. The 28-year-old defender has signed from 2. Bundesliga side, 1. FC Nürnberg and penned a deal with FC until June 2029. He featured 33 times in the second-tier last season, scoring five goals, notching up two assists and ending the campaign as one of the strongest tacklers in the division.

FC Managing Director, Thomas Kessler said: “We are really pleased that we were able to convince Luka to join 1. FC Köln. In the past few years, he has been able to gain valuable experience at several clubs and has the exact profile that we were looking for in this position. With his character, his defensive strengths and his physical presence, especially in the air, he will bring further stability to our defence. As a left-footer, he completes our centre-backs and gives our squad even more quality at that position. We are convinced that Luka, both in a sporting and personal sense, fits perfectly to our team. We’re very excited to see him in an FC kit in the future.”

Luka Lochoshvili said: “As a footballer, you always want to play at the highest level possible. That’s why I’m very happy that I can take the next step in my career with 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga. The discussions with those in charge were very positive and convinced me of the path here. I am really looking forward to a big, traditional club with great fans and my new team.”

The 1.92m tall centre-back was born on 29^th May 1998 in Tiblisi, Georgia. He took his first footballing steps at hometown club Dinamo Tbilisi, making his first-team debut there before joining Dynamo Kyiv. After spells in Slovakia, Austria and Italy, before he joined Nürnberg in summer past. He has 32 caps to his name for Georgia. At the 2024 European Championship, he played in the RheinEnergieSTADION for the first time, as Georgia were knocked out in the last 16 against Spain. In 2022, Lochosvili received the FIFA Fair Play award whilst with Wolfsberger AC against Austria Wien. He helped save the life of opponent Georg Teigl after he was knocked out.