Cologne continue to pay Sargis Adamyan a million-euro salary and are ready to part ways with him in winter

Armenian striker Sargis Adamyan has unexpectedly found himself at the center of a financial and squad-related paradox in Germany. Despite the fact that the 32-year-old footballer is not part of FC Cologne’s first-team plans, the club continues to pay him a full Bundesliga-level salary — around €100,000 per month.

At the moment, Adamyan is playing for the U21 team in the Regionalliga West, where he has been performing quite convincingly. The Armenian forward has already scored six goals, and his contribution helped the “Billy Goats” youth side overcome an early-season crisis and secure a place in the upper part of the table.

A contract from the past and an expensive mistake
The problem lies in the contract signed back in the summer of 2021, when Adamyan moved to Cologne from Hoffenheim. The club’s former management placed him in a high salary bracket, expecting him to become a key player. Now, Adamyan is seeing out the final year of his deal while remaining one of the highest-paid players… in the Regionalliga.

Last summer, the club attempted to terminate the contract early, but the parties failed to reach an agreement. Adamyan was willing to leave only if he received a significant portion of his remaining salary as compensation.

A firm stance from the management
Cologne’s CEO Philipp Türoff made it clear that the club deliberately rejected such a scenario. According to him, keeping the contract in place and assigning the player to the U21 team was a principled decision.

The club’s management did not want to set another precedent of paying out millions of euros just to clear the wage bill. The message is clear: if a player wants to leave, he must be ready to make financial concessions. Otherwise, the stands or the youth team may await — with corresponding consequences for market value.

Adamyan’s professionalism and an uncertain future
Despite the situation, Adamyan has shown professionalism. He accepted his new role and became one of the attacking leaders of the U21 team. Head coach Evangelos Sbonias noted that the striker takes training seriously and genuinely helps the team, especially given the limited options in attack.

Nevertheless, Adamyan’s future at the club remains unclear. He is likely to leave Cologne in the summer, and a transfer could already happen in winter. In the second half of the season, the club plans to rely more heavily on young forwards Malik El Mala and Finn Schenten, which could even see the Armenian striker relegated to the bench in the U21 team.

Thus, the winter transfer window may become Sargis Adamyan’s last chance to finally close an unsuccessful chapter at Cologne — one that has lasted three and a half years.

Source: Geissblog