Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has completed a permanent transfer from Manchester City to 1. FC Köln, the Bundesliga club announced on Tuesday. The English center-back has signed a contract with Köln that will run until 2030, following a successful loan spell with the German side. The transfer fee is reported to be around €5 million, a reduction from the initial €8 million buy option.
Simpson-Pusey initially joined Köln on loan in January and quickly established himself in the team, making eleven appearances. Despite a recent suspension due to disciplinary reasons which saw him miss the home game against Heidenheim, he played the full 90 minutes in Köln’s final match of the season against Bayern Munich. His performances reportedly convinced the club to activate the permanent transfer.
Köln’s managing director, Thomas Kessler, praised Simpson-Pusey’s swift adaptation and potential. “Jahmai has settled in very quickly since his move in the winter and immediately embraced the challenge at this level,” Kessler said in the official club statement. “His performances have shown the potential he possesses. His development is yet another example of how Köln offers a very good environment for young, talented players to take the next step in their careers.”
Simpson-Pusey himself expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and his desire to continue his development with Köln. “I’ve gotten a lot of playing time here and the club has placed a lot of trust in me,” he stated. “I’m grateful for that and that’s why I wanted to stay in Cologne. The playing time, the fans, the club – it all feels very good to me.”
The 20-year-old is a product of Manchester City’s academy, having spent twelve years within the club’s youth system. He made six first-team appearances for City before being loaned to Celtic, a spell which proved unsuccessful. City have seemingly found a beneficial outcome for all parties with the move to Köln, allowing Simpson-Pusey regular first-team football and recouping a fee for a player who did not feature prominently in Pep Guardiola’s plans. The transfer provides Köln with a promising young defender as they look to solidify their position in the Bundesliga.
