Paide Linnameeskond‘s and Estonian international young and promising midfielder Patrik Kristal is moving to the 2nd Bundesliga side 1. FC Köln in January transfer window, announced German “The Kicker” magazine.
The transfer was agreed on back in July, according to the German side, with Lukas Berg, head of Köln’s youth development, referring to Kristal as ‘one of the most interesting talents in Estonia’.
Kristal, who turns 17 in November, became Estonia’s youngest ever player to debut for the main national team at the age of 16 years and 301 days, coming on as a substitute in a Nations League match against Sweden yesterday, on the 8th of September 2024. Beyond this, he played in every match during Paide’s UEFA Conference League qualification campaign, amassing 551 minutes of European football, scoring one goal and making three assists.
While Köln expects Kristal to begin his journey with the club in the youth teams, there is palpable excitement around the club that, should the youngster continue to develop as he did back home with Paide, it won’t be long until he is able to assist the two-time Bundesliga champions in their bid to return to the top flight of German association football, from which they were relegated only last season.