Energie Cottbus signs goalkeeper Marcel Lotka on a free transfer from Düsseldorf

Reactions from Cottbus

The club's goalkeeper coach, Alexander Sebald, also spoke positively about the transfer. "Marcel ist im besten Fußballeralter, bringt Profierfahrung und Qualität mit. Das war uns wichtig", explained Sebald. He also praised the talks with the new keeper: "Die Gespräche mit Marcel waren sehr offen, die Chemie stimmt und wir haben schnell gemerkt, dass er die Herausforderung hier bei uns sehr gerne annimmt." The club deliberately took its time: "Wir haben uns Zeit gelassen und den Markt ganz in Ruhe sondiert." As part of the squad planning, Sebald will increasingly shift into the role of goalkeeper coach going forward.

Behind the move lies a shake-up in the goalkeeper position. Marius Funk, who had stood between the posts as number one for Cottbus during their promotion season, is leaving the club in the summer and returning to his youth club VfB Stuttgart, where he is planned as a backup. With Funk's departure and Sebald's announced move to the coaching staff, only Max Böhnke remained in the squad as a goalkeeper – the gap that Lotka is now set to fill.

Career stations of a journeyman year

The Duisburg native went through several clubs in his youth, including FC Schalke 04, Rot-Weiss Essen and Bayer Leverkusen. Via Borussia Dortmund's reserve team, for whom he made 84 appearances over three years, he moved to Hertha BSC in 2020. In the following season, he made ten Bundesliga appearances for the Berlin side.

At Fortuna Düsseldorf, who finished 17th in the 2. Bundesliga table this past season and were relegated to the 3. Liga, Lotka was only a backup to first-choice keeper Florian Kastenmeier and made just two competitive appearances. The goalkeeper's market value is listed at 500,000 euros; Fortuna puts the total value of their squad at 29.83 million euros.

Situation at Energie Cottbus

With the move to Cottbus, Lotka gets the chance to establish himself as a top-flight goalkeeper in German professional football – and, fittingly, at a club that has achieved promotion to the 2. Bundesliga and is now gearing up for bigger tasks.

Situation in Düsseldorf

In Düsseldorf, a personnel overhaul is meanwhile underway. Coach Alexander Ende, who looks after a squad of 31 players, must fill the goalkeeper position anew following relegation and Lotka's departure. For Cottbus, by contrast, the transfer sends a signal: with Lotka as the likely first-choice goalkeeper, the promoted side intend to secure their place in the 2. Bundesliga.