Damion Lamar Downs (born 6 July 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln.

Damion Downs
Personal information
Birth name Damion Lamar Downs
Date of birth (2004-07-06) 6 July 2004 (age 19)
Place of birth Werneck, Germany[1]
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
1. FC Köln
Number 42
Youth career
1. FC Schweinfurt 05
2018–2020 FC Ingolstadt
2020–2023 1. FC Köln
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– 1. FC Köln II 21 (8)
2023– 1. FC Köln 10 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:29, 18 May 2024 (UTC)

Early life

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Downs was born in Germany to an American father and German mother. When he was one year old, he and his family moved to the United States where he was raised in Texas for much of his childhood and played American football. Downs did not play association football until nine years old when he moved back to Germany.[2]

Club career

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Downs is a youth product of 1. FC Schweinfurt 05 and FC Ingolstadt.[3] On 28 September 2020, he joined the youth academy of 1. FC Köln.[4] He was promoted to 1. FC Köln II in 2023,[5] and signed his first professional contract with the club on 2 May 2023 until 2026.[6] On 23 September 2023, he debuted with the senior Köln team as a late substitute in a 2–1 Bundesliga loss to Werder Bremen.[7]

Downs scored his first career Bundesliga goal on 9 March 2024 against Borussia Mönchengladbach.[8] On 11 May 2024, he scored the match-winner in extra time against Union Berlin for his second Bundesliga goal.[9]

International career

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Downs holds dual citizenship, having been born in Germany to an American father and German mother. In April 2022, he was called up to a training camp for the United States U20s in Carson, California.[10] In May 2022, he was named to the United States U20 provisional roster for the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship but did not make the final squad.[11] In September 2022, he was put on standby for the Germany U19s for 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification but did not make the final squad.[12]

Downs was called up to a training camp in June 2024 for the United States U23s in Kansas City, Kansas ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Damion Lamar Downs | 1. FC Köln | Player Profile | Bundesliga". bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website.
  2. ^ "After Cologne first team breakthrough, Downs pushing for Olympic spot". American Soccer Now. 11 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Schweinfurter Talent hofft auf Profi-Karriere". mainpost.de. 15 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Nachwuchs-Talent Damion Downs wechselt zum "Effzeh"". 28 September 2020.
  5. ^ "1. FC Köln: Downs ist zurück - bei den FC-Profis - GEISSBLOG".
  6. ^ "1. FC Köln stattet U19-Pokalheld Damion Downs mit Profivertrag aus". 90min.de. 2 May 2023.
  7. ^ "W. Bremen 2-1 Colonia: results, summary and goals". AS.com. 23 September 2023.
  8. ^ "DRAMATIC DERBY DRAW IN GLADBACH". FC Cologne. 9 March 2024.
  9. ^ "UNION LOSE IN KÖLN". Union Berlin. 11 May 2024.
  10. ^ "VARAS CALLS 22 PLAYERS FOR U-20 MEN'S YOUTH NATIONAL TRAINING CAMP IN CARSON, CALIF". US Soccer. 20 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Slonina, Cowell and Gomez headline USMNT U-20 provisional roster for Concacaf Championship". SBI Soccer. 28 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Einladung für Damion Downs: DFB und USA kämpfen um Kölner Sturm-Juwel". EXPRESS. 20 September 2022.
  13. ^ "TWENTY-FIVE PLAYERS CALLED TO U.S. MEN'S OLYMPIC SOCCER TEAM FOR FINAL PRE-OLYMPIC TRAINING CAMP AND MATCH AGAINST JAPAN IN KANSAS CITY". US Soccer. 29 May 2024.
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