Damion Downs' ears should be burning after an impressive season in Bundesliga 2 with Cologne. - © IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel

2. Bundesliga

Damion Downs: Who is Cologne's young German-American forward?

02.04.2025

Damion Downs is Bundesliga 2 promotion candidates Cologne's top scorer in 2024/25. bundesliga.com profiles the German-American forward...

Stats correct as of 2 April 2025

Damion Downs

Age: 20 (born 6 July 2004)
Club: Cologne
Position: Forward
Country: Germany (six U20 caps, two goals)/ USA (uncapped)

Key stats

Germany-born Downs played for the youth teams of hometown club Schweinfurt and Ingolstadt, before switching to the Cologne U17s in September 2020. The 6'3" striker made the step up to the U19s within a year and, despite various injury problems, produced 10 goals and five assists across 17 league appearances at that level. He also contributed three goals and as many assists to the U19s team that won the 2022/23 junior German Cup, as well as one assist in three U23 outings.

Downs averaged a goal every 106 minutes in the U19s Bundesliga-West. - Imago

Already an unused Bundesliga substitute on two occasions and kitted out with a pro contract through to summer 2026, Downs kicked off 2023/24 with two goals in eight outings for the reserves in Germany's fourth tier. The American prospect was rewarded with his Bundesliga debut on Matchday 5, playing the final seven minutes of Cologne's 2-1 loss at Werder Bremen. He scored his first top-flight goal on his fourth Bundesliga outing and struck again on his ninth, but couldn't prevent the Billy Goats from being relegated.

An immediate return to the top tier is on the cards, though, with Downs' nine goals after 27 Bundesliga 2 matches helping Cologne occupy one of two automatic promotion places at the business end of the 2024/25 campaign. He's averaging a goal every 160.7 minutes, has three assists and was also on target in the DFB Cup quarter-final loss to holders Bayer Leverkusen.

Plays a bit like: Miroslav Klose

A rangy central striker with more pace than the average No.9, Downs has a touch of Germany record scorer Miroslav Klose about his budding game.

Watch: Damion Downs fired Cologne past Schalke in February 2025

Did you know?

As a German-American - born in Germany but with US citizenship - Downs has a decision to make. He's been called up to represent both nations at youth level, debuting for the Germany U20s in September 2024 and making Mauricio Pochettino's 60-man preliminary US senior squad for the CONCACAF Champions League in March 2025. Will he plump for his country of birth or take Route USMNT like fellow Deutschamerikaner such as Jermaine Jones, Fabian Johnson and Timothy Chandler?

What they're saying

"It's hard for young players to break through, but Damion's done a great job. He's quick and a good finisher. He has great potential." - former Cologne head coach Timo Schultz, following Downs' second Bundesliga goal in March 2024

"Damion's continued to develop since the U17s. He's overcome setbacks to have a great season with the U19s, showing the qualities he possessed. We're sure he can take the next step with the pros." - Thomas Kessler, head of first-team football at Cologne