Cologne announced on Tuesday that former German goalkeeper Ron Robert Zieler has transferred from Hannover 96. The two parties signed a contract until June 30, 2027, with an option to extend for one year.

According to the contract, Zieler will join Cologne management after retirement. His transfer fee to Cologne is about 200,000 euros.

Regarding Zieler's joining, Cologne's sports director Thomas Kessler explained: "We are very happy to have convinced Ron to join Cologne. Our communication has been very frank and positive from the beginning. We quickly realized that he was willing to accept this challenge and was ready to contribute his qualities and rich experience to the team. His leadership on and off the court and his willingness to take responsibility were key factors in our decision."

"Ron is considered a top priority in our roster planning," Kessler concluded. "He will be an indispensable piece of the team's puzzle and make a valuable contribution to the success of the new season."

The 36-year-old Zieler grew up in the Cologne youth training system and went to Manchester United in 2005 to seek development. He then played for Northampton, Hannover 96, Leicester City, Stuttgart and other teams, and returned to Cologne on loan in the 2020/21 season.

To date, Zieler has made 496 appearances at the club level, keeping 118 clean sheets. Last season, he made 34 appearances for Hannover 96, keeping 11 clean sheets.

After completing the transfer, Zieler said: "I spent six years in the youth training career at Cologne Club and laid the foundation for my professional career. Cologne is my home. Despite this, I never thought about leaving Hannover until Thomas Kessler called."

"I also felt at home at Hannover. I had open discussions with both sides about this move. From the beginning, I felt that Cologne valued me very much and provided me with a clear plan for my future after my career, which was very important to me. That's why I finally decided to return to my home club. I will play for Cologne for at least two more years and fight for the team's success during this time."