Story byFC Köln to promote Thomas Kessler to sporting managing director soonBulinewsSat, January 17, 2026 at 8:33 AM UTC·1 min readAccording to Sky Germany's sources, Thomas Kessler is on the verge of being promoted to sporting managing director of 1. FC Köln. The new contract offer is expected to run until 2028, with only the final details to be ironed out between the club's bosses and Kessler. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGeißblog reports the board is very impressed with Kessler's transfer dealings and his approach to the team, coach, media and staff. As early as Tuesday, Kessler told Sky: “We are very confident that we will be able to announce something soon.”The 39-year-old oversaw around 26 transfer dealings last summer, most of which have settled well and performed admirably. Kessler has almost managed to pry the likes of Manchester City's Jahmai Simpson-Pusey away from Celtic to join Köln in winter.
