Sebastiaan Bornauw has emerged as a target for Germany club FC Koln after struggling for minutes in his first season at Leeds United
Kieran Horn
17:05, 27 May 2026Updated 17:07, 27 May 2026
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Leeds United star Sebastiaan Bornauw has been linked with a summer transfer window exit
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Leeds United defender Sebastiaan Bornauw has been linked with a summer transfer window exit(Image: (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images))
Bundesliga side FC Koln are expected to make an approach for Leeds United defender Sebastiaan Bornauw after confirming a separate decision. The 27-year-old, who arrived at Elland Road last summer from Wolfsburg for a fee of £5.1million, has been on the fringes this season which has prompted transfer interest from elsewhere.
According to German outlet Bild, he is a candidate to replace Cenk Ozkacar at his former club after it was confirmed they have opted against signing him from Valencia permanently. After avoiding relegation, the report states they are planning to restructure their defence and sign a centre-back that is good in the air with a wide range of passing skills.
And Bornauw has emerged as one target that fits those requirements following their awful end to the season, winning just one game out of a possible 14 since early February.
Minutes for the Belgian have been hard to come by over the last few months as he sits behind Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Jaka Bijol in the pecking order.
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Even when defensive injuries have struck Daniel Farke's side, James Justin has been the option deployed on the right of a back three with others moved around.
Bornauw has featured for 771 minutes across 17 games in all competitions this season and despite that, Farke has spoken highly of him in recent months.
Speaking about the defender in early April, he said: “Yes, Sebastiaan is also a top-class character. We spoke once we signed him, that it could also be that he is sometimes the backup option.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke
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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke
“What I like about him is that he can play all positions in the defence, all three centre-back positions, and if even broader, sometimes as a full-back or even as a wing-back if needed."
One of his few starts was at right-back in the FA Cup clash against Norwich but he was taken off at half-time. His next appearance from the off after that was in the 1-0 victory over Brighton earlier this month.
Leeds' Premier League safety was confirmed a few weeks earlier which has allowed them to start looking at transfers ahead of the 2026/27 season.
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