FC Koln is experiencing a curious transfer start in the 2026 season. Despite signing three players, there are no real new signings yet. Thomas Kessler, the sporting director, has already invested a lot, but the fluctuation in the squad is remarkable. Following the departure of Denis Huseinbasic, a total of eight players have left the club, with their market value estimated at over 23 million euros. However, the Kölner have only received a mid-six-figure sum for the sale of Huseinbasic, complicating the situation further. The departures are mostly understandable, but the disappointing earnings stand in stark contrast to the high expenses. With nearly 15 million euros spent on three players acquired last year, the squad remains unchanged. The signings of Jakub Kaminski and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey could, however, shake up the transfer market. Both players were signed below market value, indicating a positive development. Still, the question remains how FC Koln will tackle the upcoming challenges while the transfer balance continues to be negative.