1. FC Koln have signed former Bundesliga star Borna Sosa on loan, as the club confirmed on Tuesday. Meanwhile, a 4-1 defeat at VfB Stuttgart on the second matchday brought early disappointment, but also a bright spark with the debut of Mikey Moore.

Who is new loan signing Borna Sosa?

According to a report by Goal.com, 1. FC Koln have loaned left-back Borna Sosa from Crystal Palace for one year. The 28-year-old joins Effzeh without an option to buy. Sosa is under contract with the London club until 2028, but managed only 842 minutes across 18 appearances last season.

The Croatian knows the Bundesliga well from his time at VfB Stuttgart. Between 2018 and 2023, he made 115 competitive appearances for the Swabian club, scoring five goals and providing 35 assists. His final season in Stuttgart was particularly strong, with two goals and twelve assists playing a key role in securing survival. After spells at Ajax and Torino, he joined Crystal Palace in the summer of 2025. Sporting director Thomas Kessler told Goal.com that Sosa knows the league very well and brings valuable international experience. "With his strong left foot, his attacking drive and his high quality in crossing, he expands our options," Kessler said.

How did Mikey Moore perform on his debut?

Despite the heavy defeat in Stuttgart, the performance of new signing Mikey Moore was a positive for FC Koln. As reported by Bild Sport, the 19-year-old Englishman showed infectious energy after coming on at half-time. Immediately after the restart he attempted a solo run, had two chances to score and set up the consolation goal to make it 1-3.

Coach René Wagner was impressed with the youth international's quality, according to the report. "I think we all know he has brutal quality. He changed the game after coming on in a way," Wagner said. Captain Marvin Schwäbe also reacted positively: "What he has shown in training and now in the game, that gives us hope and makes us want more." Moore is expected to form an attacking duo with Said El Mala this season, who was missing in Stuttgart. Currently, El Mala is sidelined with an injury, according to verified club data as of September 5, 2026, alongside Sebastian Sebulonsen, Thijs Dallinga and Timo Hübers.

Why was the defence so weak in Stuttgart?

The 4-1 defeat revealed a familiar problem with Koln's defence, according to Bild Sport. Despite the new signings Gideon Mensah and Luka Lochoshvili, VfB tore the backline apart. Last season, Koln already conceded the fourth-most goals in the league, and now they have six against after just two matchdays.

Lochoshvili in particular, who was signed from second-division side 1. FC Nürnberg for around five million euros, had a difficult evening. For the 0-1, no one properly challenged the eventual goalscorer, and for the 0-3 he was simply outrun. Alessio Castro-Montes on the right and Gideon Mensah on the left also made many mistakes. Coach Wagner summarised the first three goals conceded: "We definitely should have defended the 1-0 better, the 2-0 could also have been solved better structurally." The current injury list with four key players, including defensive stalwart Timo Hübers, exacerbates the personnel shortage. The complete squad overview is available on our team page.

What was the emotional story before the match?

Just before kick-off in Stuttgart, coach René Wagner gave a moving interview to Sky, as reported by Bild Sport. Wagner spoke of a young lady who had visited the team in training the previous week. "Her last wish was to see the team one more time." the 38-year-old said.

This encounter showed the players the emotional significance of the club. "It made us aware again that we simply have the responsibility to give our all every day," Wagner added. Moderator Michael Leopold got goosebumps from the story. Such moments show the special connection between the club and its fans. The next chance to see the team live is the home match against Werder Bremen on September 12, 2026. The exact schedule can be found in our fixtures overview.