New signing number 13 for Fortuna Cologne. The midfielder is an old acquaintance in the southern part of the city, having already played for Fortuna for three years.
Regionalliga West side Fortuna Cologne has announced its latest signing. The club announced on Saturday (July 5) that Suheyel Najar has signed for the Cologne club.
Najar is a familiar face at the Südstadion. The midfielder already played for Fortuna from 2019 to 2022, making 71 appearances during that time. He has scored 14 goals and provided 35 assists for Fortuna so far. He comes from city rivals Viktoria Cologne, where he was recently sidelined for a long time due to a cruciate ligament rupture.
“Su is on the right track after his cruciate ligament injury and is regaining his old strength. We will build him up carefully and give him the time he needs to become an important and decisive factor in our game again,” explains Fortuna coach Matthias Mink.
Born in Cologne, Najar joined TV Herkenrath in the summer of 2018 via Mittelrheinliga clubs FC BW Friesdorf, SV Bergisch Gladbach 09, and FC Hennef 05, where he played in the Regionalliga West for the first time. In the winter, he moved to Bonner SC, which was also in the Regionalliga at the time.
In the 2019/20 season, he returned to his hometown. He first joined Viktoria Köln, where he made his first appearances in the 3. Liga, and then moved to Fortuna. His most successful season was 2012/22, when he made 38 appearances in the Regionalliga West, providing 20 assists and scoring eight goals himself.
This attracted the interest of SV Wehen Wiesbaden, where he returned to the 3rd division but did not play a major role. He has been playing for Viktoria Cologne again since 2023, but missed the entire 2024/25 season due to a cruciate ligament rupture. Now he wants to get back into shape in the Fortuna jersey.
“I’m back in the Südstadt and it feels like I’ve never been away. My time at Fortuna has been the best of my career so far. The Südstadion, the fans, the whole club have something special. Being back here now couldn’t feel more right,” says Najar, delighted about his return.
“After a difficult period, I’m even more eager to finally be back on the pitch. This season is full of potential, and I want to take responsibility, both on and off the pitch. But we can only achieve something together. The team, the fans, the club – all of us. So let’s get going and achieve something great,” says Fortuna Köln’s thirteenth external signing.