Frankfurt officially unveil Skhiri
Eintracht Frankfurt officially confirmed the signing of Tunisian midfielder Ellyes Skhiri on a free late yesterday evening.
| Ellyes Skhiri | Eintracht Frankfurt |
The 54-times-capped Tunisian international seemed destined for a move outside of German football until Eintracht opted to make a last-ditch push to keep him in the Bundesliga. The long-time 1. FC Köln player now brings with him the experience of 118 Bundesliga appearances (17 goals) to Germany's financial and commercial capital.
"With Ellyes Skhiri, we were able to sign a highly coveted player," Markus Krösche is quoted as saying in a statement accompanying the signing, "He is a seasoned Bundesliga professional with plenty of national and international experience. He has chosen Eintracht despite lucrative offers from home and abroad, underlining how much he identifies with the task here in Frankfurt. Ellyes will be an important player and stabilizer in the defensive midfield."
"We watched Ellyes for a long time and let our interest be known at an early stage," Krösche's newly appointed front office colleague Timmo Hardung added, "It turns out that our persistence has been rewarded. In our squad planning, a six-man with strong running and playing ability was of tantamount importance. We were also impressed by the way he presented himself as a type at 1. FC Köln. With his character, Ellyes is an excellent fit for Eintracht and our team."
"Eintracht Frankfurt is a club that has developed strongly in recent years," Skhiri himself said, "I have been impressed by how intensively those responsible tried to recruit me. I'm convinced that Frankfurt is the right next step for me and that together we will achieve our goals. It was particularly important for me to move to a club that plays internationally and where passion plays a big role. I'm especially looking forward to games in front of the great Frankfurt crowd."