Confirmed: Defensive all-rounder Eze departs Bayer Leverkusen after thirteen years of service 

Versatile German-born Nigerian midfielder Joshua Eze has ended a thirteen-year association with German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. 

Through their official website, Regionalliga West side Fortuna Köln announced the signing of Eze on Friday, without disclosing the length of the deal.

The 20-year-old Eze, who was previously captain of the Leverkusen U19s, signed a professional contract with Bayer 04 last year but never played in the first team.

Predominantly a holding midfielder, he can also play as a central defender and represented several Bayer Leverkusen youth teams. 

He showed his versatility in the friendly against 1. FC Köln, playing 45 minutes in both positions and convincingly.

In 60 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen's U17 and U19 teams, including eight in the prestigious UEFA Youth League, he scored four goals. 

He reunites with  Fortuna Köln coach Markus von Ahlen, with whom he worked together at Bayer Leverkusen U19s.

In his first words as a player of Fortuna Köln, Eze stated: "I'm happy to have signed with Fortuna now. I hope that we will play a successful season together and have a lot of fun together."

Fortuna Köln, who are topping the Regionalliga after one game, face Wegberg-Beeck in their next match on Saturday. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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