Bundesliga News

Palsson thanks Schalke for "emotional year" after D.C. United switch

By Peter Weis   @PeterVicey

One of Schalke's pivot players from the recent promotion campaign concluded his transfer to D.C. United on Wednesday. 

Thirty-one-year-old Icelandic midfielder Victor Palsson had kind words for his former club as he headed across the pond. 

Schalke sporting director Rouven Schröder added some parting words for one of his team's "important leaders" as well
Victor Palsson
Victor PalssonD.C. United
An eminently likable figure to German football fans, after a candid interview given last summer about his substance abuse and mental health struggles, completed his switch to America's MLS on Wednesday. After three seasons at SV Darmstadt 98 and one with the recently promoted FC Schalke 04, 31-year-old midfielder Victor Palsson will continue his career stateside.


German footballing magazine Kicker confirms earlier reports that the Königsblauen will receive a transfer fee in the amount of €500,000. In terms of there intangibles that Schalke will be losing, S04 sporting director Roven Schröder made clear that the club take the decision to offload Palsson lightly.

"It was not an easy decision for either side," Schröder noted "Victor had great value to us not only on the pitch. He was a role model for all his teammates in terms of behavior off the pitch. His focus on team success, the drive to achieve mutual goals, that's what distinguished him. Additionally, he was an important person for the young and foreign-language-speaking players."

"It was really hard for me to leave the club and my teammates," Palsson is quoted as saying in a released statement, "Private reasons ended up tipping the scales. My family lives in North America. For me, the year at Schalke was one of the most emotional ones in my career. The road to promotion, the games at Sandhausen and against St. Pauli - these are moments I will never forget."




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