Ellyes Skhiri: Tunisia midfielder linked with surprise return to Cologne from Frankfurt

Ellyes Skhiri, the Tunisia international midfielder currently at Eintracht Frankfurt, is being linked with a return to Bundesliga rivals 1.FC Koln. The 31-year-old defensive midfielder is rated as having a 45% chance of making the move, with talks understood to be at a speculative but developing stage.

Skhiri is under contract at Frankfurt until 30 June 2027, meaning any deal would require Koln to negotiate a fee rather than wait for a free transfer. His current market value stands at around 5m, significantly lower than the 13m mark he reached earlier in his career, which could make a deal more attainable for the Rhine club.

The move would represent a reunion, with Skhiri having previously spent four seasons at Koln after joining from Montpellier in 2019 for 6m. He left the club on a free transfer in July 2023 to sign for Frankfurt, where he has continued to operate in his preferred defensive midfield role.

Skhiri has extensive top-flight experience, with 200 Bundesliga appearances and a further 123 in Ligue 1, as well as outings in European competition and domestic cups. On the international stage, he featured in all three of Tunisias games at the 2026 World Cup, starting each match and playing the vast majority of minutes.

Named Tunisias Footballer of the Year in 2021, Skhiri remains a central figure for club and country. With a long-term contract still in place at Frankfurt, his situation gives the German club a strong negotiating position should Koln decide to formalise their interest.