Schalke 04 has signed striker, Vedad Ibisevic from Hertha Berlin for Schalke on a free transfer.
The Royal Blues decided to take advantage of the veteran’s situation at Hertha and got him on free as they need to strengthen their attack.
Schalke is currently in a financial mess that sees them owe up to 200m Euros in debt. This made the club release talented midfielder, Weston McKennie to Juventus on an initial loan deal. So, adding the veteran to their attack ahead of the new Bundesliga season is a steal.
The former Hertha Berlin captain scored seven goals and got two assists in the Bundesliga last season. His contract ran out at the end of the 2019/20 campaign.
The 36-year-old impressed new coach Bruno Labbadia. But he ended his five-year stay in the German capital by signing a one-year deal with Schalke.
Vedad Ibisevic is a real to Schalke 04
“Vedad is a real asset to our squad. He’s an experienced, offensive goal-threat who is still burning to for every single Bundesliga appearance.
“Vedad convinced us with his attitude in the talks: he simply wants to keep playing football at the highest level, and his qualities are undisputed. We look forward to working together,” Schalke sporting director Jochen Schneider said.
The veteran Bosnia and Herzegovina attacker has a nose for goal and he will provide a much-needed boost to the Royal Blues, who were the third-lowest goalscorers in the 2019/20 Bundesliga. They were only able to score 38 goals in 34 league matches, slumping badly in the second half of the season to finish 12th in the table.
Hertha, on the other hand, improved greatly after the appointment of Labbadia in April, rising to 10th in the standings with four goals coming from Ibisevic in the final nine games of the season.
David Wagner will now be welcoming a veteran who has scored 56 goals and recorded 22 assists in 159 games in all competitions in Germany.
Ibisevic had similar goal-laden spells with Hoffenheim and then VfB Stuttgart. He has so far scored 27 goals and 52 assists in 340 Bundesliga games.
Hertha Berlin already has Ibisevic’s replacement
The departure of Ibisevic means that January signings Matheus Cunha and Krzysztof Piatek, Dodi Lukebakio will have to step up at Hertha.
Ibisevic will now partner with midfielder Suat Serdar, who was Shalke’s top goalscorer last season with seven league goals. Other attackers, he will be playing alongside include Guido Burgstaller, Amine Harit, Benito Raman, and Mark Uth in Gelsenkirchen.
With the move confirmed, the 36-year-old could make his debut during Schalke’s visit to the reigning champions Bayern Munich in the opening game of the 2020/21 Bundesliga season on Friday 18 September.
“Schalke is a really cool club. So you don’t have to think twice. I’m very motivated and want to be successful with the team. With my experience and my quality, I want to do my part,” Ibisevic said.
