THW Kiel steps up to the mark with a star signing. Julian Köster has four years in the zebra jersey to look forward to, the back court ace starts playing in Kiel in 2026.
With a prospering career both in Bundesliga and the national team it was only a matter of time before some major club would agree a deal with the 25-year-old.
VfL Gummersbach had the pleasure of applying Köster in a central role from 2021, advancing to the premier division and establishing the club in Bundesliga.
From 2026/27 it’s Kiel´s turn to provide the best environment for Köster to grow.
– I am very much looking forward to the upcoming time at THW Kiel.
– THW is not only the record champion but also one of the biggest and most traditional clubs in the handball world. It is a great honor for me to be able to play for this club in the future, he says to the club webpage.
Köster was missing for a part of the autumn season with a knee injury. He returned to play late November against THW Kiel and has proven his value with 71 goals and 55 assists for Gummersbach.
– Julian has a high level of game intelligence and takes responsibility even in tight situations. He is one of the strongest, if not the strongest, German backcourt players both defensively and offensively. With his vision and cool head, he is already a key figure for both his club and the national team at just 25 years old, and his development is far from complete, says Kiel´s coach Filip Jicha to the club website.
Source: HANDBALL-NATIONALSPIELER JULIAN KÖSTER WECHSELT 2026 ZUM THW KIEL