Former PSV player reacts to transfer: “Actually, we got it sorted out pretty quickly”

Former PSV player Menno Koch moved to Bengaluru FC in India during the past transfer window. Koch was able to leave Sarpsborg 08 FF on a free transfer.

In December 2014, the defender made his debut for PSV’s first team as a substitute for Karim Rekik during the match PSV - Go Ahead Eagles (5-0) in the Eredivisie. Nevertheless, Koch did not break through at PSV, and the club decided to loan him out for the rest of the season to fellow provincial club NAC Breda.

Partly due to a severe injury, the defender made only nine duels for the team from Breda, and in January 2016 Koch returned to action for Jong PSV. After a loan spell at FC Utrecht and a two-year stint with NAC Breda, the defender moved in the summer of 2019 to KAS Eupen in Belgium.

In 2021, Koch subsequently moved to CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria, before moving to Sarpsborg 08 FF in 2024. The former PSV player left on a free transfer, and the defender is now active in India.

In conversation with Eindhovens Dagblad, the former PSV youth player provides text and explanation about his choice for the Asian country. ''Yes, it takes a bit of getting used to when it comes to the temperature. I understand that it raises questions. My wife and I very much wanted to experience what life in Asia would be like, in combination with football. I’m in the autumn of my career, and this was something I could probably do one more time in my life. If I hadn’t done it, I probably would have regretted it anyway. Now that we’re here, we’ll have to wait and see how the ball will roll,'' Koch is quoted as saying.

It didn’t take long before the decision was made to relocate to Asia. “At first, I couldn’t really gauge what the level would be. In Norway, my contract had ended, and we discussed it well at home. Actually, we came to a decision quite quickly. I’ve experienced great things in Bulgaria and Norway, and now I can even, once, pursue my hobby as a profession outside Europe. Then you have nothing to complain about,” the defender continues.

Koch also discusses the level of the Indian competition, the Indian Super League. ''We have played against a number of opponents that, in the Netherlands as well, some amateur teams will probably beat. Still, many players also reach a fairly professional level. There are very few Europeans who make the step to India, perhaps because they are afraid of the change in climate or the conditions. But it turns out it’s a lot less bad than that, everything'', concludes the former PSV youth player.