Bochum bring Paciencia back to German football
VfL Bochum had an interesting surprise introduction shortly after the transfer window closed yesterday.
Former Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Schalke 04 striker Gonçalo Paciencia is back in German football. The twice-capped Portuguese international joined Bochum on loan yesterday from Spanish top-tier outfit Celta Vigo on a season-long-loan. The now 29-year-old left Frankfurt, the German club at which he enjoyed essentially all of his professional success, last summer.
Paciencia brings with him the experience of 14 Bundesliga goals in 67 top flight appearances. He also tallied thrice for Eintracht in the Europa League. A loan-out to Schalke during the 2020/21 relegation campaign constituted something of a low point for the veteran as injuries kept him off the pitch. He's continued to have issues and scored just twice in La Liga last season.
"Gonçalo knows the Bundesliga very well," VfL personnel executive Patrick Fabian noted in a statement, "he knows what is important in this league and will not need a long period of acclimatisation. We are very much looking forward to seeing Gonçalo in the VfL tricot until next summer."
"I am very happy to be back in the Bundesliga from now on," the player himself added, "I know what kind of atmosphere prevails here and how difficult it is for the visiting team to compete in Bochum. Now I want to do my part to ensure that it stays that way and that we end up achieving the big goal of remaining in the league."