Ellyes Skhiri set to return to 1. FC Koln from Eintracht Frankfurt

Ellyes Skhiri is close to rejoining former club 1. FC Koln after reaching a full agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt over the transfer of the Tunisia midfielder.

German journalist Florian Plettenberg, of Sky, reports that Skhiri has also agreed to return to 1. FC Koln, who compete in the Bundesliga.

The transfer is expected to cost 1. FC Koln €1m, with additional payments potentially included in the deal. Skhiri is scheduled to undergo a medical on Thursday before signing a contract with his new club on Friday. The proposed agreement is expected to run until 2028.

Plettenberg posted on social media: “🚨💥 Ellyes Skhiri back to 1. FC Koln – DONE DEAL ✔️Full agreement reached with Eintracht Frankfurt following@Mr_Frankynatorand green light from Skhiri.Been told the transfer fee is €1m + add-ons. Deal is pending medical, which is scheduled for today, and contract signing…”

The move would take Skhiri back to 1. FC Koln three years after he left the club. He represented them between 2019 and 2023, making 118 appearances and scoring 17 goals.

Skhiri subsequently joined Eintracht Frankfurt on a free transfer. However, Eintracht Frankfurt opened the door to his departure this summer after he fell out of favour with the first team.

A return to 1. FC Koln would give the club an experienced midfielder with extensive knowledge of German football. Skhiri has played more than 200 matches in the Bundesliga during his career and also brings significant international experience with Tunisia, known as the Carthage Eagles.

The midfielder’s previous spell at 1. FC Koln established him as a regular performer in the German top flight before his move to Eintracht Frankfurt. His potential return would therefore reunite him with the club where he spent four seasons and made more than 100 appearances.

The deal remains subject to Skhiri completing his medical, followed by the formal signing of his contract. If those steps are completed as planned, he will begin a second spell with 1. FC Koln under an agreement lasting until 2028.

The original report also appeared alongside separate headlines concerning Barcelona: “Garcia watches on and Hamza demands his chance… ‘Sport’ rates Barcelona players against Al Ahly” and “Video: Violence at Camp Nou… Catalan police eject Al Ahly fans”.

Readers were also invited to discuss the subject and other news in greater depth on Kooora forums.