The future of 1. FC Köln captain Marvin Schwabe: questions remain

1. FC Köln captain Marvin Schwabe has been the team's main goalkeeper for four years now. Last season he led a traditional club onto the pitch for the first time as captain. However, one year left on his contract raises questions about his future. After the season finale, Schwabe said: “Overall I feel very good in Cologne, I’m glad to be here and I can imagine staying here even longer.” This sounded like a proposal to the club’s sports management. Schwabe also noted, “I’m opening the door for that.”

But more than two weeks have passed and negotiations have not begun, and there are no concrete proposals from FC yet. Schwabe completed his fifth year as the starting goalkeeper, and first as captain. He has returned to the starting line-up twice, beating Timo Horn in 2021/22 and Janos Urbig in 2024/25. In each season, his average kicker rating was above 3. At 31 years old, Schwabe continues to improve and is no longer only reliable on the goal line. Last season he was involved significantly more in the Cologne game: in 34 matches he touched the ball 413 times (1,873 contacts) and made 398 more passes (1,594) than two years ago.


If Schwabe remains at Geibockheim, he will begin his sixth season at the club and, as of today, shares the second most seniority in the team with Timo Huberts, behind only Jan Thielmann. His importance to FC is undeniable, but will it remain that way? Schwabe is already studying the market, and this or next year he could sign the last big contract of his career. Therefore, a transition this summer is not excluded. There is already specific interest in Schwabe for transfers from the summer of 2027, when he will be able to transfer without compensation. He is also attracted to English football, where he could take on a competitive role - exactly what an ambitious goalkeeper likes.

However, his stay in Cologne is also possible, and he does not hide the fact that he feels comfortable here. “Everyone is ambitious, so am I. Everyone wants to play at a high level and achieve success,” he noted after the game against the Bundesliga champions, adding: “And I want to do that first of all with FC.” A clear signal to the sporting authorities, although at the moment they have not responded. If they make a move towards Schwabe, the goalkeeper situation could quickly clear up. However, if that doesn't happen, this could be the last summer that FC can capitalize on the league's statistically eighth-best goalkeeper last season (2.99 rating).