{
  "id": 4808030,
  "title": "Leaving Auxerre was like saying goodbye to home – Gideon Mensah",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/leaving-auxerre-was-like-saying-goodbye-to-home-gideon-mensah",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T07:11:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/leaving-auxerre-was-like-saying-goodbye-to-home-gideon-mensah/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ghanaian defender Gideon Mensah has recalled the emotional challenge of leaving AJ Auxerre after four years, stating that the French club had become akin to a \"home\" for him. The 27-year-old German Bundesliga player recently signed a two-year deal with 1. FC Köln, marking the end of his longest-ever club tenure. Prior to Auxerre, Mensah had spent significant portions of his career on loan, including stints at Sturm Graz, Zulte Waregem, Vitória Guimarães, and Bordeaux, all while remaining with Red Bull Salzburg. Reflecting on his time at Auxerre, the Ghana international admitted that it was the first club where he truly felt settled. \"It was a bit difficult,\" he admitted. \"Before Auxerre, I'd spent most of my career playing for clubs on loan, mostly one-year contracts, and then I'd go back to Salzburg.\" Joining Auxerre at the age of 24 and staying until he was nearly 28, Mensah described the experience as transformative, adding, \"Auxerre became like a home for me. Leaving somewhere that you call home was a bit difficult for me.\" Despite the emotional farewell, Mensah views the move to Germany as a necessary career step. \"At the end of the day, this is our work. It's my career,\" he said. \"At some point, you need to take risks and also make sacrifices, leaving your comfort zone and going to look for what the world can also bring to you in your career.\" Mensah has already begun his new chapter in the Bundesliga, making his debut for 1. FC Köln in a 3-2 victory against TSG Hoffenheim at the RheinEnergieSTADION on Saturday. He is expected to appear again when Köln faces VfB Stuttgart at the MHPArena in the coming weekend.",
  "summary": "Ghana defender Gideon Mensah has described his departure from AJ Auxerre as one of the toughest decisions of his career, saying the French club had become “home” after four years. The 27-year-old joined German Bundesliga side 1. FC Köln on a two-year contract this summer after his deal with Auxerre expired, bringing an end to […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Gideon Mensah left AJ Auxerre after four years, feeling it as a goodbye to home.",
    "The Ghanaian defender signed a two-year deal with 1. FC Köln in Germany.",
    "Mensah's time at Auxerre was transformative, making it feel like a home."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Gideon's departure from Auxerre marks a significant shift from a comforting, long-term stay to a new challenge, one he views as a necessary career risk and sacrifice for further growth.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}