FC Koln has been working for years to reap the benefits of its outstanding youth development. The second team is an important stepping stone. On January 2, 2026, five talents from the FC Academy traveled with the professionals to the training camp in Spain. Under former coach Lukas Kwasniok, goalkeeper Mikolaj Marutzki, defenders Yannick Mausehund and Cenny Neumann, and strikers Fynn Schenten and Bernie Lennemann were allowed to join. While Neumann and Schenten subsequently made some appearances for the professionals, others have not yet been able to establish themselves. The second team of FC Koln only plays in the Regionalliga West. A question is often discussed in the club's environment: Is this a good stepping stone or a dead end? FC Koln is convinced that the U21 team in the Regionalliga is the most important stepping stone for young players. Lukas Berg, Technical Director at FC Koln, says: We have the highest possible level of ambition in the area of player development in the U21 team. That is our priority. If the development of our players brings about a sporting success that enables promotion, we will not reject it. That's why we have also applied for the 3. Liga license in previous years. With defender Niklas Hoffmann, a leader from Waldhof Mannheim from the 3. Liga has now been signed. He is supposed to inspire the FC talents. FC Koln knows that titles like a youth championship or a U19 cup final are sensational, but much more important is the transition to the professionals. Other talents like Etienne Borie, Fayssal Harchaoui, Patrik Kristal, Yannick Mausehund, Cenny Neumann or Malek El Mala could soon train with the professionals. The new head coach René Wagner will make the decision. So, in the preparation, several young players will again train with the professionals. But FC Koln must also invest more financially to enable coach Evangelos Sbonias to assemble a corresponding team. The question is also what is more valuable for talents: playing in the Regionalliga in the upper third or fighting against relegation in the 3. Liga? FC Koln wants to improve in the future and improve the transition to the professionals.