Fulham youngster Christopher Buchtmann has returned to Germany to join Cologne on a three-year contract.

Buchtmann only moved to Fulham from Liverpool during the January transfer window, but failed to make a first-team appearance for Roy Hodgson’s side.

The teenage midfielder has now accepted a move to Cologne and the Bundesliga club’s general manager Michael Meier is happy to have signed a player of such promise.

“We are very pleased that we were able, after long negotiations, to complete the transfer of Christopher Buchtmann, especially since there were some rivals from the Bundesliga,” Meier told the club’s official website.

“Christopher is a promising player. He gained some experience with Fulham and he has also been successful with the German youth teams”.