Damion Downs

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.

Club career
Downs is a youth product of 1. FC Schweinfurt 05 and FC Ingolstadt. On 28 September 2020, he joined the youth academy of 1. FC Köln. He was promoted to 1. FC Köln II in 2023, and signed his first professional contract with the club on 2 May 2023 until 2026. On 23 September 2023, he debuted with the senior Köln team as a late substitute in a 2–1 Bundesliga loss to Werder Bremen.

Downs scored his first career Bundesliga goal on 9 March 2024 against Borussia Mönchengladbach. On 11 May 2024, he scored the match-winner in extra time against Union Berlin for his second Bundesliga goal.

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. 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. 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.

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.