Soccer: Boateng and Betar part after 2 1?2-year stint

Ghanaian midfielder completes medical at German club FC Koln and will finalize move in coming days.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Betar Boateng 224.88 (photo credit: AP)
Betar Boateng 224.88
(photo credit: AP)
Derek Boateng completed his medical at German club FC Koln on Sunday and will finalize his move away from Betar Jerusalem in the coming days. The Ghanaian midfielder, who joined Betar in June 2006, played a crucial role in Betar's consecutive league championships in the last two seasons, but grew disgruntled during this campaign and had looked for a way out of the club. Jerusalem was also keen to off-load the 25-year-old in the January transfer window, as his contract was set to end in the summer. The team allowed him to leave on a free transfer. "It's an honor for me to be here. I'm very happy and I'm grateful to the management and coach Christoph Daum for their support," Boateng told the Koln official Web site. "I watched some Koln matches and the fans are fantastic. It means a lot to me to see that the supporters are always behind the team." Koln is currently placed in 11th position in the German Bundesliga, which will only return from its winter break on January 31. "Boateng is an experienced player and he won't have any trouble settling in quickly," Daum said. "He's a versatile player who will help us."