“For me, Derrick is the best left back in the league…” Hannover 96 head coach at the time Stefan Lietl had no holds barred and was effusive with his praise for Derrick Köhn, following a particularly impressive 2022/23 season by the left back in which he registered 11 goal contributions in 33 league games from defence. But who exactly is Köhn and what could he offer to the Black Stars?
Derrick Köhn is a 26-year-old versatile left back capable of playing further up on the left flank or even slotting into centre back when needed. Born on 4th February 1999 in Hamburg, Germany, Köhn is a German youth international who had his footballing education at the Hamburger SV and Bayern Munich youth academies respectively.
It is at Bayern’s reserve team (Bayern II) that he made his professional debut in the Regionnaliga in 2017/18, helping them to gain promotion to the 3. Liga within two seasons. 18 goal contributions in 78 games earned him a move to Eredivisie club Willem II in 2020/21 where he made 66 appearances, notching 3 goal contributions.
He moved back to Germany with Hannover 96 in the 2. Bundesliga for the 2022/23 season. Here, he had the most successful spell of his career to date with a remarkable 20 goal contributions in 56 games from fullback, including the forementioned 11 goal contributions in 33 league games.
Turkish giants Galatasaray came knocking in the 2023/24 season and the left back had a brief spell there. He registered 3 goal contributions in 19 games in Turkey before making another return to Germany with Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga for the 2024/25 season. Köhn managed 4 goal contributions in 30 games for Die Werderaner last season and was snapped up by Union Berlin this summer.
With 48 career goal contributions already racked up in a career that still has a long way to go, it comes as no real surprise that the adventurous fullback is a firm fan favourite. He has been described as having an “incredible left foot” and a “unique blend of offensive prowess and athleticism”.
And the statistics backup the hype. Compared to all fullbacks in the Europe’s Big 5 leagues over the last year, Köhn’s offensive prowess is resplendent as he ranks in the 99th percentile for both goals to xG (expected goals) ratio and non-penalty goals to npxG (non-penalty expected goals) ratio.
He is also in the 92nd percentile for both goals and non-penalty goals, 90th percentile for take-ons attempted, 88th percentile for goals per shot, 86th percentile for goals per shot on target, 83rd percentile for goals and assists, and 81st percentile for successful take-ons (all stats ranked per 90).
His swashbuckling style does not automatically make him a slouch on defence however, and he ranks in the 97th percentile for challenges lost, 94th percentile for percentage of dribblers tackled, and 83rd percentile for both general blocks and passes blocked (all stats ranked per 90).
With Köhn publicly yearning for a Black Stars callup in 2023 after his stellar season with Hannover 96, a homecoming has been a long time in the making. Köhn might just be the final piece of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification jigsaw.
Article Written By Mutala Yakubu | 3 Sports
