Sebastian Andersson joins Cologne from Union Berlin after Cordoba exit
Cologne have moved quickly to replace departed striker Jhon Cordoba by signing Sebastian Andersson from Union Berlin.
The Billy Goats lost Cordoba to Hertha Berlin on Tuesday but mere hours later they announced the arrival of Swedish striker Andersson, who was on target 12 times for Union in their maiden Bundesliga campaign.
Union’s leading goalscorer last season has penned a three-year contract with the two-time German champions.
"Sebastian is a physically strong player, who is strong in the air and on the ground - he is a player with a fantastic mentality," Cologne managing director Horst Heldt said of the 29-year-old.
"He has made more than 100 appearances at the highest level, and has constantly proven his ability to score goals."
Andersson scored 12 goals during Union's unforgettable promotion campaign in 2018/19, and he matched that total in the top flight last season as the east Berliners finished 11th in the standings.
A league-high seven of the 6'3" frontman’s Bundesliga goals in 2019/20 came via his head, and he also led the league for challenges and aerial duels won last season.
The Sweden international will be expected to make up for the loss of Colombian attacker Cordoba, who topped the scoring charts for the Billy Goats last term with 13 league goals.
"For me, new challenges are important," Andersson told the Cologne website.
Watch: Andersson scored twice against Cologne in 2019/20
"In Berlin, I have evolved over the past two years in sporting terms, but also as a person. The move to Cologne is now the next step. I'm looking forward to the adventure with this special club."
Andersson’s first move abroad saw him join Kaiserslautern in August 2017, and he switched to Union ten months later after also getting 12 league goals during his first year in Germany.
Cologne will be counting on the hard-working forward to replicate the kind of form he showed during two memorable years in the German capital, starting with their 2020/21 Bundesliga opener at home to Hoffenheim on Saturday.