Augsburg sell Malone to Basel
FC Augsburg striker Maurice Malone's transfer to Switzerland's FC Basel 1893 was confirmed late yesterday.
Recently returned from his third consecutive loan-out, German-American striker Maurice Malone is now finally headed out of Germany's Fuggerstadt on a permanent basis. FC Augsburg had been in negotiations with Austrian club SK Sturm Graz for the 22-year-old's sale, but Switzerland's FC Basel 1893 took advantage of stalled negotiations and tabled their own offer.
The "Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung" reports that the German club has secured a transfer fee of €2 million for their homegrown product. Augsburg were known to wish to extend with Malone. The player nevertheless wished to gain better playing prospects elsewhere. Malone's new deal with the Swiss club runs through 2027.
"We certainly noted his steady improvement," FCA manager Stefan Reuter noted in a statement, "However, Maurice informed us that he did not want to extend his contract. We respect this decision, especially since we have now found a good solution for all sides with FC Basel."
"Basel is a great club," Malone himself remarked in a statement released by Basel, "That's why when the chance came I didn't have to think it over very long. I am very happy to be here, give it my all, and help the team out."