Is there a possibility for Lex-Tyger Lobinger to continue for another year?
**Viktoria Köln Braces for Key Player Departures and Hopes for New Talent**
The 2025/26 season promises to be a challenging one for Viktoria Köln, as the club prepares for a campaign without several key players from the previous season. The new coach, Marian Wilhelm, will have to navigate this period of transition, with central defender Zoumana Keita, right-back Sidny Cabral, and defensive midfielder Enrique Lofolomo all departing for RSC Anderlecht, Estrela Amadora, and Zulte Waregem respectively.
The club's top scorer, Lex-Tyger Lobinger, who netted 15 goals and provided 4 assists last season, is also considering opportunities abroad, potentially leaving a significant gap in the attack. Said El Mala and Serhat-Semih Güler, who were responsible for 27 goals and nine assists, are also leaving Viktoria Köln.
Last season, Viktoria Köln finished in 6th place with 59 points, a remarkable offset of departures that saw several players step up to fill the void. There is hope that one or two breakthrough players will emerge from the new squad.
Lobinger has attracted significant interest during the 2025 summer transfer window, with several clubs from the third tier and the 2. Bundesliga expressing interest. However, due to financial constraints and Viktoria Köln's valuation, third-tier clubs are seen as unlikely to secure his signature.
The most concrete and likely destination for Lobinger appears to be the 2. Bundesliga, with Dynamo Dresden and Eintracht Braunschweig reportedly actively pursuing him. If these clubs make official offers, they would have a realistic chance of acquiring him, as neither is a direct competitor to Viktoria Köln in the same division.
Given the financial landscape, it is highly probable that Lobinger will move up to the 2. Bundesliga. A move within the third division seems unlikely due to the transfer fee involved, and Viktoria Köln has not received any official offers from third-tier clubs as of July 2025.
In terms of new signings, Viktoria Köln has bolstered its ranks with four new strikers: Raphael Ott (TSV 1860 Munich), Benjamin Zank (FC Carl Zeiss Jena), David Otto (SV Sandhausen), and Leander Popp (SpVgg Greuther Fürth, on loan). All twelve new signings are 24 years old or younger, except for the 26-year-old David Otto.
The departure of Olaf Janßen, who led Viktoria Köln during the successful 2024/25 season, to SV Sandhausen leaves Marian Wilhelm as the new trainer at Viktoria Köln. The club has been a member of the 3rd Liga for six years and has been without a permanent coach since the departure of Janßen.
The club is still dealing with a tight budget due to the death of patron Franz-Josef Wernze, which may force them to turn down lucrative offers for Lobinger's contract, which expires in 2026.
| Club | League | Likelihood of Move | Notes | |------------------------|------------------|--------------------|-------------------------------------------| | 1. FC Saarbrücken | 3. Liga | Low | Financial constraints, no official offer | | Rot-Weiss Essen | 3. Liga | Low | Financial constraints, no official offer | | Alemannia Aachen | 3. Liga | Low | Financial constraints, no official offer | | Dynamo Dresden | 2. Bundesliga | High | Frontrunner, concrete interest | | Eintracht Braunschweig | 2. Bundesliga | High | Frontrunner, concrete interest |
In light of the impending departures of several key players, including Lex-Tyger Lobinger who leads the club's interest in European leagues, especially Laliga, Viktoria Köln is on the lookout for new talent to fill the void. The new strikers, such as Raphael Ott, Benjamin Zank, David Otto, and Leander Popp, have been signed by the club this transfer window in the hopes that one or more will make a significant impact this season, especially given the potential loss of Lobinger.
