Gideon Mensah: Ghana left-back joins 1.FC Koln on free transfer from Auxerre

Ghana defender Gideon Mensah has joined Bundesliga side 1.FC Koln on a free transfer from French club AJ Auxerre.

The 27-year-old left-back has signed a contract with Koln until 30 June 2028 after leaving Auxerre at the end of his deal. Mensah, who prefers to operate on the left side of defence, will wear the number 14 shirt for the German club.

Mensah arrives in Cologne after helping Auxerre climb back into the French top flight, having been part of the squad that won the Ligue 2 title in the 2023-24 season. He made more than 100 appearances in Ligue 1 across his time in France, underlining his experience at the highest domestic level before making the switch to Germany.

Born in Accra and standing at 1.78m, Mensah has built a career across several European leagues, including spells in Austria, Portugal and Belgium earlier in his career. He also featured previously in the Bundesliga, making 13 appearances in Germanys top division before his move to Auxerre in 2022.

On the international stage, Mensah has recently been involved in the 2026 World Cup, starting all four of Ghanas matches at the tournament and playing every minute.

Mensah, whose current market value is listed at 4m, becomes a long-term defensive addition for Koln after completing his free transfer from Auxerre and committing to a two-year deal.