Viktoria Köln has recorded a departure. A regular player moves within the 3rd division and stays in NRW.

After a strong season in the Viktoria Köln jersey, Stefano Russo is moving on. However, the 23-year-old midfielder is staying in the 3rd division and in North Rhine-Westphalia: he will be playing for Arminia Bielefeld from the summer. The clubs announced the transfer on Wednesday evening.

“Stefano approached us with the wish to leave the club. We now wish him all the best for his private and footballing future,” explained Viktoria’s head of sport Stephan Küsters, who is losing another important player.

Russo was a regular in coach Olaf Janßen’s team – just like Luca Marseiler and Andre Becker, who are also leaving the club. The German-Italian transferred from Waldhof Mannheim to the Höhenbergers just a year ago.

Meanwhile, Bielefeld are delighted to have signed a third-division player who was already established at a young age. The former Augsburg and Hoffenheim youth player played 80 games in this division

“He has his greatest strengths in his understanding of the game, his constant playability and his aggressiveness when working against the ball,” explain sporting director Michael Mutzel and head coach Michel Kniat. “He therefore fits perfectly into our playing system. His experience and rhythm of play are also of great value to our squad.”

Russo is Bielefeld’s first new signing for the coming season. “I’m really impressed with the way Michael Mutzel and Mitch Kniat not only looked after me, but also how well they prepared me as a player and showed me a clear development plan,” said Russo about his upcoming transfer. “With Arminia Bielefeld, I have chosen a real traditional club that has incredible support from its fans. Becoming part of it now is a special motivation and opportunity. “