Viktoria Köln are tinkering with their squad for the new season. A midfielder has now been signed from the league rivals.

Viktoria Köln have signed their second external addition in the 3rd division. Following attacker Valdrin Mustafa (SV Elversberg), Stefano Russo has now been signed from league rivals Waldhof Mannheim.

The 22-year-old central midfielder has made 17 appearances for Mannheim in the current series.

“With Stefano Russo, we were able to win a very young, talented player from Waldhof Mannheim for us. We are very pleased that he has decided to join us,” explains Viktoria head coach Olaf Janßen: “We believe that Stefano fits our game very well. He can play as a six and an eight and has all the skills to make our game even better. Like many of our signings, Stefano still has huge potential, he is only 22 years old. We believe we can still develop him and he can become a permanent fixture at Viktoria.”

Russo trained at TSG Hoffenheim and FC Augsburg. In total, he already has 47 Drittliga games to show for his young years.

Now he is excited about the new task in Cologne: “I am really looking forward to the new task here in Cologne. The talks were very pleasant, the club seems very familiar. Franz Wunderlich and Olaf Janßen quickly convinced me of the Viktoria, and the infrastructure is excellent. I want to develop further here and hope for a successful season.”

He is also delighted that he is now playing with Viktoria and not against Cologne. Because his memories of Cologne as an opponent are unpleasant: “You were never happy to play against the Viktoria – so I am all the more happy now to be able to play for this team. I can hardly wait to get going with the boys.”

In addition to the two external additions, Cologne also signed the talents Jonah Sticker (right-back) and Kaden Amaniampong (centre-back) to professional contracts.