FC Augsburg earlier announced the acquisition of South Korea international Ja-Cheol Koo from 1. FSV Mainz 05 for a fee of around €5million, on a two-year contract deal until 2017. He also has an option of extending this deal, according to his former side.

In 23 appearances last season (including 16 starts) Koo contributed five goals, including one in a two-nil victory against his new side. However, Martin Schmidt had deemed him surplus of requirements and allowed him to leave, after appearing for just fifteen minutes this season.

Return to Schwaben-Bavaria

Ja-Cheol Koo is no stranger to this part of Bavaria, having spent a season on loan in the provincial city from VfL Wolfsburg during the 2012/13 campaign. The South Korean international made 36 appearances and scored on eight occasions as Markus Weinzierl led die Fuggerstädter to a 15th place finish. After returning to Lower Saxony, Koo then made the move to the Coface Arena and 1. FSV Mainz 05. 

When asked on his return, Ja-Cheol Koo said that he’s “always felt comfortable at FC Augsburg”, adding though that he’s “now felt the feeling to come home.”

Die Fuggerstädter managing director Stefan Reuter also had his say on the move itself, saying the 26-year-old “knows the club, the environment as well as team trainer”, so he “won’t need much time to settle in.”

Koo joins Augsburg’s European revolution

The South Korean will join Philipp Max, Konstantinos Staflydis, Dominik Kohr, Piotr Trochowski, Yannik Öttl and Daniel Opare in commiting their future’s with Markus Weinzierl’s side ahead of their first ever European campaign. FCA will face Athletic Bilbao, AZ Alkmaar and Partizan Belgrade in Group L of the UEFA Europa League. 

However die Fuggerstädter have endured a torrid start to the season, having earnt just a single point from their opening three games. That included a first ever derby defeat to newly promoted FC Ingolstadt 04 on Saturday.