FC St. Pauli are close to signing 20-year-old attacking talent Youssoupha Niang from 1. FC Köln. The German youth international is set to join the club on loan.
1. FC Köln announced on Wednesday that Niang had been released for talks with another club. The winger subsequently missed Cologne's training and was already absent from their 2:1 DFB-Pokal win against Würzburger Kickers on Monday evening. Negotiations with St. Pauli are said to be at an advanced stage. For FC St. Pauli, who were relegated from the Bundesliga in 16th place with 26 points last season, Niang would be the eighth new signing this summer. The team scored 26 goals but conceded 51 in their 30 league games.
Who is Youssoupha Niang?
Youssoupha Niang is a 1.85-meter-tall right winger who can also play as a central striker. The Bonn-born player has been part of 1. FC Köln's professional squad since the second half of last season. During that time, he made ten Bundesliga appearances, including one match against Hamburger SV. Previously, he scored three goals and provided one assist in four games for Cologne's second team in the Regionalliga West. In the Junioren-Bundesliga, he played 27 times for the U19s, scoring 13 goals and playing a key role in winning the German U19 championship. He completed the full pre-season with Cologne's first team and reportedly made a very good impression. His market value is estimated at two million euros by 'Transfermarkt.de'.
Why is Niang moving to FC St. Pauli?
The move is intended to give the young talent more playing time in the 2. Bundesliga. At Cologne, Niang would likely have been a squad player this season. At St. Pauli, the hope is that he can accelerate his development and enrich the team's attack. The club has undergone a rebuild following relegation and has already signed seven new players: Branimir Hrgota, Marcus Mathisen, Sam Klein, Wissou Kaba, Giisli Thordarson, Rony Jansson and Dimitar Mitov. The exact composition of the squad for the new season can be viewed on our squad page.
How does Niang fit into the current team?
Niang would bring another option for the attacking flanks, an area FC St. Pauli has specifically targeted in this transfer window. He already has Bundesliga experience but needs regular minutes to develop further. The manager and sporting director are focusing on signing young, hungry players with potential. The statistical review of last season, in which the team finished 50 points behind champions Bayern Munich, is available on our stats page.
What does the transfer mean for the season planning?
With Niang, another young talent would bolster FC St. Pauli's ranks. The club is responding to the sporting situation after Bundesliga relegation and building a squad for an immediate promotion push. The transfer policy clearly aims to bring in players with perspective who can gain experience in the second division and drive the team forward. The complete table from the concluded season, with a record of six wins, eight draws and 16 defeats, is available at standings. Preparations for the new season in the second tier are in full swing.
