Transfers, cup revenues, and merch sales: 1. FC Köln is still raking in millions even in the lower division of soccer. Which deals have been particularly profitable for the club?

1. FC Köln has also made a profit in its second division year.

The Bundesliga newcomer’s operating company (GmbH und Co. KGaA) generated €150.8 million in revenue last season, as CFO Philipp Türoff announced at the general meeting. This resulted in a profit of €5.4 million after taxes.

“We finished the second division season on a high note, overcame the challenging situation financially, and met our financial obligations on time and reliably at all times. We are financially stable and have been promoted with the ability to act. We received the license for the current season without any conditions,” explained FC managing director Philipp Türoff.

Positive effects on revenue included transfer activities such as the sales of Jeff Chabot and Jonas Urbig, success in the DFB Cup, record merchandise sales, contract extensions with important partners, and the takeover of public catering at the RheinEnergieSTADION.

FC reduced its interest-bearing financial obligations by €14 million, including a fan bond that had been listed in the club’s liabilities since 2005. At the same time, FC invested in its sporting infrastructure, the stadium experience, and digitalization.

The solid financial figures confirm that the club is on the right track, as Türoff emphasized: “We want an FC that is operationally healthy, capable of acting, and successful in sporting terms, and we will continue to focus on a responsible commercial and sporting strategy in the future.” In his outlook, he pointed out that in the future, too, “we must be very careful with the FC’s money in order to achieve our goals.” The figures presented by the corporation for 2024/25 are preliminary results. The annual financial statements are expected to be certified by the auditors in October.