Newly promoted Bundesliga club FC Köln have strengthened themselves at the left-back position by completing the transfer of USMNT international Kristoffer Lund. The 23-year-old joins Köln on loan for the season from Serie B outfit Palermo FC. All major German footballing media outlets confirm the existence of a purchase option in the deal.

Lund’s signing pushes the Kölner squad up to 33 professionals; a number considered rather large for a Bundesliga club not contesting an international competition. Die Geißböcke seek to remedy this by offloading three strikers not deemed fit for the German top flight: Florian Dietz, Sargis Adamyan, and Steffen Tigges.

Kicker reports that Köln have found a taker for Tigges in German second division side SC Paderborn 07. The German magazine divulges little about the nature of the deal, but a sale can be assumed. Tigges enters the final year of his contract in the cathedral city. A loan is thus not an option. 

Köln organized a significant media roll-out for Lund; a player they had been targeting for quite some time. The seven-times-capped U.S. international himself expressed great enthusiasm at moving to the Bundesliga. Lund will compete with Leart Paqarada for the starting left-back role.

“Kristoffer has exactly the profile we want for the left-hand-side,” Köln sporting director Thomas Kessler noted in a club statement. “He combines defensive stability with an attacking drive and impresses with a mentality that meets our requirements for this position. Despite his young age, he already has valuable international experience. With his signing, we are specifically increasing quality and competition at the left-back position.“

“When I heard about the offer, I took a closer look at FC,” Lund himself added. “It’s a big club with a deep history and a great fan base. On top of that, I had very good talks with the people in charge. And Cologne plays in the Bundesliga, which is one of the best leagues in Europe. I feel ready for that and want to prove myself here.“