Lukimya to join Cologne on two-year deal

Cologne have announced that Congolese defender Assani Lukimya will join the club from Fortuna Dusseldorf on a two-year deal.

The 26-year-old, who also had a spell at Hansa Rostock, will join Stale Solbakken’s side on a free transfer in July pending a medical.

Announcing the deal, Cologne general manager Claus Horstmann expressed his delight with the acquisition of Lukimya.

“Assani Lukimya is one of the top central defenders in the 2. Bundesliga, and has caught the interest of many in the Bundesliga,” he told Cologne’s official website.

“We are therefore very pleased that, with the SportsLab and scouting department, we were able to reach an early agreement with the player and the football club.”

Cologne are 13th in the Bundesliga standings, just five points off the drop zone, and have the second-worst defensive record in the league after Freiburg.

Lukimya has made 49 league appearances for Dusseldorf since joining the club in 2010, scoring one goal.