Niklas Kölle

Niklas Kölle's career has been built on free transfers rather than fees. A left-footed left-back from Wolfsburg, he spent five years in that city's youth academy before two seasons in Mainz's youth setup, and it was at Mainz 05 II that his senior career began in earnest, with 51 appearances between 2018 and 2020.

The most productive spell of his career came at MSV Duisburg, where over two seasons he made 55 appearances and scored ten goals, an unusual return for a defender. That form took him to SSV Ulm 1846 on a free transfer in 2024, though his time there produced little playing time: a single DFB-Pokal appearance, a 0–4 defeat away to Bayern Munich in August 2024. He spent the rest of that season on loan at VfL Osnabrück, making 19 appearances, and did not return to play for Ulm once the loan ended.

Kölle came through Germany's youth international system, earning six caps and a goal for the U18 side, including a goal in a 3–0 win over Austria in April 2017. He was also called up to the U19 squad on standby, without making an appearance, and had earlier featured for the U17s and made his youth international debut for the U15 side against the Netherlands.

Following Ulm's relegation from the 3. Liga, Kölle signed for Hansa Rostock on a free transfer in July 2026.