Crystal Palace defender Borna Sosa has detailed how he was left sweating on transfer deadline day as he joined Cologne at the last minute.
The defender moved to the German side on loan from Crystal Palace on deadline day, signing until the end of the season.
Last month we detailed how there had been drama around the move as the 28-year-old forgot his passport when heading to airport for his flight.
Last minute deal
Then the deal was only finalised with three minutes left of the window as the screen on the machine that they use to upload documentation froze. Cologne were left panicking, but eventually the deal with Crystal Palace was completed.
Now the defender has shared his side of the events with the German club’s official website. And he explains that there was another element of fear creeping in. If the deal hadn’t been done, he wouldn’t have been able to get back to England.
“I checked my messages and suddenly saw a notification telling me I had a flight in two hours,” he explained.
“I didn’t have any of my things with me and wouldn’t have made it home in time.”
Forgotten passport
Carrying only the bare essentials and without his passport, he headed to airport. Luckily, he was allowed to fly, despite not having his passport with him.
“I showed a photo of my passport, and fortunately, that was enough,” he said.
“I was nervous – not just because of the time, but also because I wouldn’t have been able to get back into England. You aren’t allowed to enter the country without your passport.
“I was really happy it worked out. I’m very glad to be in Cologne now.”
The focus now, is getting back on track in Germany. The left-back struggled at Crystal Palace after a €2.3m move from Ajax last summer.
He went on to make just 18 appearances, worth 842 minutes last season, and found himself out of Pierre Sage’s plans this year.
Now he’s back in Germany, where he previously played for Stuttgart. And the focus will be on moving forwards after a deadline day move full of drama.
