Confirmed: Salzburg snap up long-time Köln keeper Horn on a free
After 21 years and over 201 top-flight appearances for 1. FC Köln, keeper Timo Horn has officially departed German football.
Köln academy man Timo Horn - a fully professional member of the Geißböcke squad since 2012 - has made a total of 327 appearances in goal for the only German club he's ever represented in the top two German footballing divisions, the country's domestic cup, and the Europa League. The 30-year-old keeper has now officially departed the cathedral city after 21 years with his German club. Horn signed a short-term-deal with RB Salzburg on Saturday.
Horn lost his long-held starting place to Marvin Schwäbe roughly two years ago. Since then, the Köln-native has been hoping to move to a different club. Köln agreed to give Horn his outright release on January 1st so that he might sign elsewhere as a free-agent. Salzburg were keen to sign him to back up #1 net-minder Alexander Schlager. It appears that Schlager's current back-up, Germany U21 international Nico Mantl, will be loaned to Denmark.
"My decision feels right," Horn noted in a club statement, "we quickly came to an agreement. After 21 years in Köln, it had to be a club that suits me and that I can identify with. Alexander Schlager played a very good first half of the season and impressed. I will try to support him in the best possible way for the rest of the season while also making my case with my performances."