Schalke outpace Bundesliga sides, land Schallenberg as first summer signing
FC Schalke 04 have introduced SC Paderborn 07 defensive midfielder Ron Schallenberg as their first summer signing.
Recently relegated FC Schalke 04 have shelled out a reported €2-3 million for their first official summer signing. German footballing media sources disagree on the exact amount that die Königsblauen have paid for SC Paderborn midfielder Ron Schallenberg, but most are in agreement that the club convinced the 24-year-old to play for them despite clear interest from top-tier sides such as FC Augsburg, Werder Bremen, and VfB Stuttgart.
Whether or not Schallenberg was enticed to play for another second tier side with an attractive salary offer remains unknown for the moment. In any event, S04 bosses Peter Knäbel and newly installed sporting director André Hechelmann were happy to take their own victory laps in statements accompanying the signing.
"It is our duty to go after such a name," Hechelmann noted, "He's a player who is known and just played a good season. Ron is a strategist who will give us stability in the center with and without the ball. With his footballing quality and mentality, he is exactly the right man for the job."
Knäbel and head-coach Thomas Reis also lauded the signing, reserving some praise for Hechelmann in his procurement of a "proven leader for the team". Schallenberg himself credited the Schalke administrative team for "very positive discussions" and declared himself "delighted" to be joining die Knappen.
Unser Sportdirektor über die Qualitäten der neuen königsblauen Nummer 6 💬#S04 pic.twitter.com/wKrLTnqIc4
— FC Schalke 04 (@s04) June 19, 2023