Ghana defender Gideon Mensah ‘very hyped’ to win over FC Koln supporters

Ghana international Gideon Mensah is relishing the prospect of playing in front of Koln’s passionate supporters as he prepares for his Bundesliga debut.

Mensah completed a two-year move to the German club following the expiration of his contract with Auxerre, bringing four seasons in France to an end.

The 28-year-old left-back has already experienced the atmosphere at Koln’s home ground, having featured in a friendly in front of around 30,000 supporters.

That experience has only increased his excitement ahead of Saturday’s Bundesliga opener against Hoffenheim, when he expects the stadium to be packed.

“[I’m] very hyped [to play in front of Köln fans]. I already played in front of them. I think it was like 30,000 in the friendly game. I’m looking forward to also being a favourite person to them,” Mensah told Bundesliga.

Mensah will now have the opportunity to win over the Cologne faithful with his performances as he begins a new chapter in his career.

The Ghanaian has plenty of experience to draw upon, having made 114 competitive appearances for Auxerre and previously played for Bordeaux.

He has also represented clubs in Austria, Belgium and Portugal, while his international experience includes starting all four of Ghana’s matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With Cologne returning to action in the Bundesliga, Mensah is eager to build a strong connection with the supporters and justify their faith in him.

His first opportunity comes against Hoffenheim on Saturday.