Football Bundesliga: Köln signs U17 European champion Neves

German football club 1. FC Köln has secured the signing of promising young talent Gil Neves, an 18-year-old midfielder who joins from Benfica Lisbon. The Bundesliga club announced the long-term contract for Neves, who is expected to bolster their midfield options.

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We follow Gil's career path for a long time and are very happy that we were able to win him over for the FC.

Neves, who represented Portugal's U17 team to victory in the 2025 European Championship, brings a strong pedigree to Köln. He previously moved to Benfica's academy in the summer of 2024, where he made 23 appearances for the U23 team and nine in the Youth League last season. He has also played for Luxembourg and Portuguese junior national teams.

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Gil brings excellent prerequisites for great development for his established position in central, defensive midfield, both football-wise, physically, and character-wise.

Reports suggest the transfer fee is below one million euros, with Benfica retaining a percentage of any future sale. Lukas Berg, Technical Director at 1. FC Köln, expressed enthusiasm for the signing, highlighting Neves's footballing ability, physical attributes, and character as ideal for development. The club plans to integrate Neves into the first team gradually, ensuring he develops at the "right tempo."

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In the entire process, we could feel great conviction that FC is the right place for his next step - the club means a great deal to him.