Quite high on the payroll, but rather average on the pitch: Striker Davie Selke doesn’t fit at Hertha BSC either. The 27-year-old moves on to Cologne in the Bundesliga. For the Berliners it is now the fourth departure in winter, a successor should only come in the summer.
Davie Selke is leaving Bundesliga club Hertha BSC after five and a half years and moving to league rivals 1. FC Köln. The 27-year-old signed a contract with the Rhinelanders until June 30, 2024. Both clubs agreed on the transfer, as announced by Hertha and Cologne. “We have always spoken openly with Davie about his situation and the contract with us, which ends in the summer. He now has the option of a change within the Bundesliga early on, and we have complied with this request,” said Hertha’s sporting director Fredi Bobic can further relieve the budget.
Selke was one of the top earners in Berlin and is the fourth departure after Vladimir Darida, Linus Gechter and Dong-Jun Lee. Born in Schorndorf, he appeared in 126 competitive games for Hertha, scoring 26 goals. Selke moved to the capital from Leipzig in 2017, but was loaned out to his home club Werder Bremen two years ago. However, the club did not have to exercise the agreed purchase option because of its relegation to the second division, and Selke returned to Berlin. Even under Hertha coach Sandro Schwarz, the striker did not have a regular place.
“Davie fits very well with our game idea and the striker profile we are looking for. As a classic nine, he has his qualities in the box and still works immensely diligently against the ball,” said Cologne’s managing director Christian Keller, “with his physical presence, his strong Heading and finishing well, he will help our team if we use him appropriately. We are also convinced that with his mature personality he can give our team important impetus both on and off the pitch.”
The gap left by Selke at Hertha BSC will not last long. In the summer, Florian Niederlechner is moving from league rivals FC Augsburg to Berlin. Niederlechner’s agent Ingo Haspel confirmed the free transfer. “I can confirm that Florian will continue his career at Hertha BSC when his contract ends in June,” Haspel told Sky.
The first rumors arose three weeks ago that the 32-year-old attacker would move to the Spree. Niederlechner has been playing in the Fuggerstadt since 2019 and scored 23 goals in 89 league games. Niederlechner has scored four times in 14 Bundesliga games this season. Last winter, Niederlechner received an offer from Chicago Fire from the US professional league MLS for three years. FC Augsburg did not let him go at the time.
