On the final day of the transfer window, another player has left 1. FC Köln. Kristian Pedersen has left FC and joined Swansea City. As a result, the left-back returns to the Championship after leaving Birmingham City in summer 2022. There, the 29-year-old Dane made 155 appearances (nine goals, seven assists) in the second tier of English football.

FC Managing Director, Christian Keller said: “Kristian came to us with a clear desire to move on. With the signing of Dominique Heintz, we are able to make that happen. The positions that Kristian covered, left-back and centre-back, are now filled as a result. We thank Kristian for him time here and how he was a team player during his time at FC, we wish him the best for the future.”

Kristian Pedersen said: “The chance to play in the Championship again was something that I didn’t want to pass up on. I enjoyed the most successful time in my career while playing in England. I want to build on that now with the move to Swansea City. I am very thankful for the past year at FC and Köln will always be a positive memory for me. I wish my team-mates and the club all the best for the season.”

Kristian Pedersen made 14 appearances for FC last season, in the Bundesliga, UEFA Europa Conference League and in the DFB-Pokal.