Damion Downs Explained

Damion Downs
Full Name:Damion Lamar Downs
Birth Date:6 July 2004
Birth Place:Werneck, Germany[1]
Height:1.92 m
Position:Striker
Currentclub:1. FC Köln
Clubnumber:42
Youthclubs1:1. FC Schweinfurt 05
Youthyears2:2018–2020
Youthclubs2:FC Ingolstadt
Youthyears3:2020–2023
Youthclubs3:1. FC Köln
Years1:2023–
Caps1:21
Goals1:8
Years2:2023–
Caps2:10
Goals2:2
Nationalyears1:2023–2024
Nationalteam1:United States U23
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:15:29, 18 May 2024 (UTC)

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

Early life

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

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 stoppage time against Union Berlin for his second Bundesliga goal.[9]

International career

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]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1. FC Köln II2022–23Regionalliga West3030
2023–24Regionalliga West198198
Total228228
1. FC Köln2023–24Bundesliga10200102
Career total321000003210

Notes and References

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