Thomas Delaney returns to Copenhagen
Thomas Delaney has returned home to F.C. Copenhagen, seven-and-a-half years after departing the club.
The midfielder has signed a two-year deal, and he has already today his first training session with his teammates at Number 10.
Delaney made his debut for the first team at F.C. Copenhagen in 2009 and to date has played 246 matches for the Lions.
When he pulls on the white shirt again, it will be with number 27 on his back – the same number he got in the summer of 2009, when he moved up to the first team as a 17-year-old.
Delaney: A very big day for me
The now 32-year-old Delaney is looking forward to returning home to Copenhagen and to his boyhood club.
“This is a very big day for me! Returning home to F.C. Copenhagen is something I have always had in mind and wished for many times," he says.
"My heart is in F.C. Copenhagen, always has been, and always will be. That's why I'm incredibly happy that we've now succeeded in making it all work out.
"It's fantastic to return home, both in relation to the city and in relation to the club, and I really can't wait to play in Parken again in the white shirt.
"We have an exciting and important season ahead of us, where we have to win back trophies.
“I have to be at the forefront and I have to be decisive for us on the pitch, but just as much is expected of me in the dressing room in terms of supporting my teammates and the next generation of F.C. Copenhagen players. It is a task I am looking forward to taking on.”
It’s time to return home
Delaney began his career as a youth at KB and continued in the FCK Talent Department before moving up to the first team at F.C. Copenhagen. Here he ended up wearing the captain's armband before moving to Werder Bremen in 2017, and then Borussia Dortmund until 2021.
After this, his journey continued to Spain and Sevilla FC, before Hoffenheim and most recently Anderlecht have benefited from Delaney’s talents.
Now it’s time to return home to Copenhagen.
Sune Smith-Nielsen: An important addition to the squad
Sune Smith-Nielsen, FCK sporting director, says Delaney’s return provides a big presence in the team.
"Thomas is an extremely talented player with an international calibre," says Smith-Nielsen.
"We are very happy that we have succeeded in bringing Thomas home to Copenhagen. We feel that this is where he belongs and that he can contribute significantly to the team here and now. At the same time, Thomas will also pass on some of the experience he has gained throughout his great career, and he will leave his mark on the dressing room.
"Thomas is therefore an important addition to the squad. When we look at how the composition should be, Thomas is a very important piece in the team, and we are very pleased to be able to bring a player with such strong leadership qualities into the team.”
Jacob Neestrup: A culture bearer
Head coach Jacob Neestrup, meanwhile, is excited to again have Delaney available in an F.C. Copenhagen shirt.
"Thomas' homecoming is very important to us because we all know the standard that he sets in life - on the training pitch, between training sessions and of course during matches," says Neestrup.
"With Thomas, we get a significant player who knows the team, the club and the way we do things. He is a culture bearer that we bring directly into the team, and who I know will help to shape others in the right direction.
"Now Thomas just needs to get up to speed, and we look forward to bringing him into play soon.”
First training today
Delaney will train for the first time at Number 10 on Saturday morning at 11am with the rest of the squad, and we remind everyone that players only give autographs etc. after training.
Order your Delaney-jersey online today!
You can already order our new Home Jersey for the 24/25 season with "Delaney 27" print online at fckfanshop.dk/27 and be among the first to have our homecoming hero on your back.
The print is available in the FCK Fanshop at Parken from Tuesday 23 July.
