Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Friday, January 16, 2026 9:53 p.m. / Updated Friday, January 16, 2026 11:19 p.m.
Christopher Brown (34 years old), Rapid's full-back, who usually plays on the right side but can also cover the left flank when needed, is in negotiations to return to CFR Cluj. The German can stay in white and cherry and return to Gruia, where he previously played for the Transylvanian team.
Braun also played at CFR Cluj in the 2022-2023 season, during which he played 44 matches in the Transylvanian shirt. For Rapid, the defender has already ticked off 78 official games, scoring 2 goals and an assist.
Christopher Braun, back at CFR Cluj
The German born in Hamburg, with Ghanaian origins, arrived at Rapid in the summer of 2023, coming from CFR Cluj for 150,000 euros. Now, the defender can return to Gruia in the form of a permanent and free transfer, after the officials of the Bucharest club decided to let him go, not being in the plans of coach Costel Gâlcă, according to fanatik.ro.
During his career, Braun also played for VfL 93 U19, Hamburg U17, St. Pauli II, Wilhelmshaven, VfB Oldenburg, Wattenscheid 09, Fortuna Sittard, OFI Crete FC, FC Botosani, CFR Cluj and Rapid, the team that paid 150,000 euros to bring him to Giulesti.
200,000 eurosIt's Braun's market share, according to Transfermarkt
The transfers made by CFR Cluj and Rapid in the winter mercato
At CFR Cluj, this winter's news includes the arrival of Alibek Aliev from Osters (Sweden) and Ilija Masic from Zrinjski Mostar (Bosnia). Instead, the team lost several players: Louis Munteanu (DC United), Drilon Islami (Shkendija), Marcus Coco (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Iacopo Cernigoi (Virtus Verona), Otto Hindrich (Legia Warsaw), as well as Mateus Peloggia and Kurt Zouma, both out of contract.
For Rapid, the news is the arrival of Daniel Paraschiv from Real Oviedo and Robert Sălceanu from Petrolul. Instead, the people from Giulești lost: Claudiu Micovschi (FC Argeș), Cristian Ignat (Petrolul), Luka Gojkovic (UTA Arad) and Rareș Pop (Petrolul).
