Official: Bayern Munich’s Bright Arrey-Mbi joins FC Köln on 18 month loan

Update January 31, 2022 12:10 PM EST

Bayern Munich and FC Köln have confirmed the loan of Bright Arrey-Mbi for the next 18 months. As part of the loan deal, Bayern and Arrey-Mbi have agreed to extend his current deal in Munich through the summer of 2025.

Kicker is reporting that the loan deal is structured so that the loan deal becomes cheaper for Köln the more minutes that Arrey-Mbi plays. That’s a terrific move by Bayern and will hopefully become the norm.

Hasan “Brazzo” Salihamidzic:

“Bright Arrey-Mbi is a young player with great potential. We are therefore pleased that we were able to extend his contract early until 2025. He should now gain match practice in the Bundesliga with 1. FC Köln and develop on the next level.”

Thomas Kessler, Köln Sporting Director:

“Bright is a young, very talented and physically strong player with a good footballing education. We have signed him because we believe that he will create competition for places at centre-back and help us straight away.”

Bright Arrey-Mbi:

“I am looking forward to my new challenge in Köln. The club have shown me a path in which I believe in and feels right for me. Therefore, I wanted to take that opportunity. I want to use the chance at FC to continue my development under Steffen Baumgart and to establish myself in professional football.”

According to multiple reports in Germany, Bayern Munich is set to loan defender Bright Arrey-Mbi to FC Köln through the summer of 2023. The 18-year-old defender is set to continue his development with a side currently pushing for one of the Bundesliga’s European spots for next season.

First reported by Kölnische Rundschau and then Bild, Köln are in the middle of rebuilding their squad after several defensive departures during this window, so Arrey-Mbi will be given the opportunity to prove himself with the first division side.

Arrey-Mbi’s contract was set to expire this summer; however, according to the Rundschau report, Bayern and Arrey-Mbi reached a contract extension before sending him out on loan for 18 months. Sky Sports is reporting that he loan will not include an option to buy.

With rumors already swirling around Jamie Lawrence leaving Bayern II on loan this winter as well, Arrey-Mbi is the latest blow to the young side’s chances at full promotion this season. The Regionalliga side was already playing with mostly players that could still play for Bayern’s U-19 side, and it’s now looking like the side will get even younger.