Köln and Braunschweig secure RB Leipzig academy talents in double move

FC Köln and Eintracht Braunschweig have both strengthened their squads with the addition of two RB Leipzig academy graduates, as Lionel Voufack and Frederik Jäkel move on from the Saxony-based club in search of more regular playing opportunities.

RB Leipzig have confirmed that Voufack will continue his development at FC Köln, while Jäkel has completed a permanent switch to Eintracht Braunschweig following a successful loan spell. Both moves highlight a common theme in Leipzig’s youth structure lately, where competition for first-team minutes often pushes academy talents to seek pathways elsewhere.

Voufack, who developed entirely within Leipzig’s academy system and is originally from the city itself, leaves after progressing through the club’s youth ranks. The 18-year-old defender has opted for a move to Köln, where he is expected to initially join their U21 setup. The decision is understood to be driven by a desire for more consistent game time and a clearer route towards senior football, something that would have been harder to guarantee at Leipzig given the depth ahead of him.

For Köln, the signing represents a long-term investment in a young defender trained in one of Germany’s most structured development environments. While immediate first-team involvement is not expected, the club sees him as a player who can be gradually integrated into senior football over time.

Jäkel’s departure follows a slightly different path. The centre-back spent the 2025–26 season on loan at Eintracht Braunschweig, where he gained regular minutes and impressed enough to earn a permanent move this summer. His familiarity with the club and consistent performances during the loan spell made the transition a natural step.

Having joined Leipzig’s academy back in 2013, Jäkel progressed through every youth level before beginning a series of loan spells designed to accelerate his development. Those included spells abroad and in Germany, building experience across different leagues and competitive environments. Over time, he accumulated valuable senior minutes that helped shape his profile as a physically strong and experienced defender despite his age.

For Leipzig, the double exit is another reminder of the constant cycle within their academy system. Producing talent, developing it, but sometimes seeing it move on when first-team opportunities are limited. For Köln and Braunschweig, however, both signings represent low-risk additions with clear upside, built on solid youth development foundations.

The moves continue a familiar pattern in German football, where academy prospects from top clubs often find their breakthrough steps elsewhere. From here, the stage only gets bigger.