Eric Martel departs 1. FC Köln after four seasons

Eric Martel will leave 1. FC Köln after four years at the club. The Bundesliga side confirmed the midfielder’s departure on Sunday evening. Martel had spent the entire 2023-24 season without a new contract offer from Köln. His contract expired at the end of June, and the club did not pursue further negotiations during the summer transfer window. The 25-year-old German international joined Köln in 2020 from Bayern Munich. During his tenure, he made 98 competitive appearances and scored five goals for the Geißböcke. Martel’s departure marks the end of a four-year spell at RheinEnergieStadion. His final match in Köln colours came in a 2-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on 18 May 2024. The club did not disclose reasons for not extending Martel’s contract. No replacement has been announced, and Köln’s midfield remains unsettled ahead of the new season. Martel is now a free agent and available to join another club immediately. His next destination has not been confirmed. Köln finished 9th in the 2023-24 Bundesliga, securing 45 points from 34 matches. The club has begun preparations for the upcoming campaign without Martel in the squad. The midfielder’s exit follows a pattern of turnover in Köln’s squad, with several key players leaving in recent seasons.