Amber Barrett swaps Peamount United for the German Bundesliga

Additional reporting by Andrew Dempsey

Peamount United striker Amber Barrett has signed a professional contract with German Bundesliga side Cologne.

The in-form striker, who has scored 13 goals so far this season for table-topping Peamount, joins the German Bundesliga club who are ramping up their pre-season preparations ahead of the 2019/20 season.

Once of the Donegal Senior Ladies panel, Barrett made the decision to go full-time into football in 2017.

The Milford native is after completing her studies, a masters of teaching, at DCU and will join her new employers in July when the transfer window opens.

The 23-year-old joins the professional outfit having scored 30 goals last season for the current Women’s National League leaders.

“Going pro would be ideal and recently I’ve got in touch with FC Köln who are going to take me on a contract,” the Irish international told sportsjoe.ie.

“I’ve a couple of games left for Peamount and then I’ll head out. When I did my Leaving Cert, I had offers from America to go do scholarships over there. I’ve always believed in education and getting the best out of college that you can.

“It’s different in women’s football and you’re more likely to through college and then go on to [professional] football. 

“The schedule I got from Köln, it’s the equivalent to three weeks training with Peamount in a week. For me, it’s going to take a while to settle, but it’s something that I said — get through college, do your master’s and have it in case something happens. Then I can always come back, work here and still do my little bit of football.”