Jan Thielmann has been synonymous with loyalty, hustle, and raw talent. At just 23 years old, the German winger has already become a fan favorite at FC Köln, the club he joined as a teenager. Born in 2002, Thielmann broke into the Bundesliga scene as the first player from his birth year to debut in the league. He played his first official match for Köln in a 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen back in 2019.
Since then, Thielmann has been a key player for Köln, bouncing between the first and second tiers of the Bundesliga. Even when the team got relegated in 2023, Jan decided to stick around—no drama, no transfer rumors, just pure dedication. He simply said, “I pushed any offers to the back of my mind to give FC a clear signal”. His versatility as a right winger, attacking mid, or even striker makes him one of Köln’s main weapons in their present set-up. Thielman has also got a Golden Boy nomination under his belt, which is basically the Oscars for young footballers in Europe.
Right now, Jan’s focus is on dragging Köln back to the top flight. But don’t be surprised if bigger clubs come knocking soon—his mix of speed, game IQ, and work ethic is exactly what scouts drool over.
Here’s the quick rundown on Jan Thielmann: