Köln set winter deadline for Rav van den Berg after disappointing €8m move from Middlesbrough
| Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images |
Rav van den Berg has been struggling to nail down a starting place at 1. FC Köln following his €8 million move from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2025.
Currently sidelined with a muscle injury, the 22-year-old hasn't played a single minute of football this season, with Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Luka Lochoshvili and Joel Schmied all ahead of him in the pecking order.
Speaking to Bild, 1. FC Köln sporting managing director Thomas Kessler admits that things haven't gone according to plan for van den Berg and hints that a January move could be on the cards if things don't change before then.
“So far, things haven't gone as either side had hoped. However, we shouldn't make any hasty decisions after just a few matchdays. For now, the priority is for Rav to continue working on himself, impress in training and take his chances when they come,” Kessler told Bild.
“If there is no fundamental change in his sporting situation by the winter break, we will of course sit down with him and his agency and have an open discussion about which path forward makes the most sense for everyone involved.
“Naturally, the competition for places at centre-back has changed again with the signings of Jahmai [Simpson-Pusey] and Luka [Lochoshvili]. We now have a high level of quality in that position and strong competition for places. That means every player has to earn his playing time through his performances in training.”
According to Bild, van den Berg could leave Köln on either a loan or permanent deal in January.
