FC Koln have signed Tottenham Hotspur attacker Mikey Moore on a straight loan deal. At the same time, midfielder Pape Matar Sarr is set to join Juventus on a loan with a conditional obligation to buy, as reported by The Athletic on August 31, 2026.
Moore, 19, will spend the 2026/27 season with the Bundesliga club. Sarr's move to Juventus marks a search for regular playing time after falling down the pecking order at Tottenham. Moore becomes the second signing from England this summer for Koln, following Reigan Heskey's permanent move from Manchester City. Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, who was on loan last season, also joined permanently. FC Koln's current injury list, available on our injuries page, includes Luca Waldschmidt, Sebastian Sebulonsen, and Timo Hübers.
Who is Mikey Moore?
Mikey Moore is a versatile forward who can play on either the left or right flank in manager Rene Wagner's 4-2-3-1 system. The teenager started Tottenham's Premier League opener, a 3-0 defeat to Brentford on August 22. He then played the full 90 minutes and contributed a goal and an assist in a 5-1 EFL Cup win over Charlton Athletic on August 26. Moore made his Premier League debut in May 2024 against Manchester City aged 16 years and 277 days, becoming the competition's youngest-ever player. He spent the 2025/26 campaign on loan at Rangers, scoring seven goals in 47 appearances.
Why is Pape Matar Sarr leaving Tottenham?
Pape Matar Sarr, 23, has seen his Premier League minutes decline season on season for the past three years. His game has not evolved since his first season under Ange Postecoglou in 2023-24, according to The Athletic's analysis. After missing the pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand for personal reasons, Sarr was left out of the squad for the match against Newcastle United last Saturday after expressing a desire to leave. Manager Roberto De Zerbi stated that Sarr had little choice but to seek playing time elsewhere. Tottenham signed the Senegalese midfielder from Metz in 2021 for a fee around €18 million. He scored 11 goals and provided 11 assists in 141 games for Spurs.
How is FC Koln shaping their squad?
FC Koln, who finished 14th as a newly promoted side last season and endured long barren patches, are reshaping their squad. Alongside the English talents, the club signed Luka Lochoshvili from Nuremberg. However, the future of El Mala, who scored 13 goals last season and is comfortable on the left side, remains uncertain and a sale before the deadline is possible. The club has also secured high-value signings like Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, and Savio this summer, while Omar Marmoush joined on an initial loan. Koln's next challenge is an away fixture against VfB Stuttgart on September 4, 2026, as shown on the fixtures page.
What does the move mean for squad planning?
The arrival of Mikey Moore injects fresh energy and pace into FC Koln's attack. His talent is undeniable, and now he must prove himself in the Bundesliga. The loan deal fits a pattern for the club, which aims to develop young players without an immediate permanent commitment. The injuries to Waldschmidt, Sebulonsen, and Hübers highlight the need for squad depth. The current squad is detailed on our squad page. For Moore, the work starts immediately to stake a claim for the match in Stuttgart and contribute to the club's goal of securing Bundesliga survival.
