Confirmed: Bielefeld sign Alessandro Schöpf through 2023
Austrian international Alessandro Schöpf will remain in Germany's top footballing tier after signing a two-year-contract with DSC Arminia Bielefeld on Monday.
Released from his contract after FC Schalke 04's relegation this past season, twenty-seven-year-old Austrian midfielder Alessandro Schöpf knew he would be playing for his future contract whilst representing his country at this summer's Euros. Twice used as a substitute by ÖFB head-coach Franco Foda, Schöpf ended up making impactful performances into both his fixtures. Many Bundesliga clubs took notice.
Some eight days after the tournament concluded, Bielefeld snatched him up on a free. The attacking midfielder joins just his second Bundesliga club. The Königsblauen purchased him for €5 million from then second-tier side 1. FC Nürnberg prior to the 2016/17 campaign. He tallied 16 times across all competitions in six seasons with die Knappen.
"Arminia and its representatives made a concerted effort to get me during the talks," Schöpf noted in a statement, "the whole package was entirely convincing"
DSC sporting director Samir Arabi labelled Schöpf an "experienced player who can help us right away." Coach Frank Kramer spoke of his "important midfield impetus."
Schöpf did not have to travel far from where he was vacationing in his native Austria post tournament to the team's training camp in Scheffau.
Wir haben am heutigen Abend noch eine spontane Zimmerbuchung vorgenommen! Zum Glück war die Anreise nicht zu lang 😉#DSCheffau21 pic.twitter.com/FfBzhUqAH1
— DSC Arminia Bielefeld (@arminia) July 19, 2021