Newscenter

Homegrown defender Mertcan Ayhan signs new long-term contract

FC Schalke 04 have extended Gelsenkirchen-born defender Mertcan Ayhan’s contract until 30th June 2030, securing the long-term future of another player developed in the club’s academy, the Knappenschmiede. The 19-year-old’s new deal does not include a release clause, further underlining the club’s commitment to continuity in their squad planning and to developing players from the Knappenschmiede.

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Schalke 04 continue pre-season preparations

Schalke 04 returned to training on Wednesday morning (29/7), holding an open session at the club’s training ground in Gelsenkirchen as preparations continued following the training camp in Austria.

Team

Blockbuster friendly to celebrate 25 years of the VELTINS-Arena: Real Madrid CF coming to Schalke

FC Schalke 04 will welcome Spanish giants Real Madrid CF to the VELTINS-Arena on Sunday, 16th August as part of the stadium’s 25th-anniversary celebrations. Kick-off is at 17:00 CEST. Members can secure their tickets now at tickets.schalke04.de, with general sale beginning at 14:00 CEST on Friday (31/7).

Friendly

Maximilian Wöber: I want to prove at Schalke that I belong in the Bundesliga

Maximilian Wöber’s first week as a Royal Blue came while the team were away at training camp in his native Austria. The defender used the time to get to know his new teammates and the coaching staff. “I’m very happy that my first days here went well and that I’ve been able to settle in,” said the 28-year-old.

Bundesliga

Robin Gosens: This team wants to achieve big things

A 3-1 victory over Japanese top-flight side Fagiano Okayama on Saturday (25/7) brought Schalke's training camp in Stubaital to a close. As the Royal Blues return to Gelsenkirchen with the satisfaction of a job well done, there was also the excitement of seeing Robin Gosens pull on an S04 shirt for the first time, while Mertcan Ayhan is brimming with excitement for the challenges ahead.

Friendly

Gosens makes debut as Schalke come from behind to beat Fagiano Okayama 3-1

Schalke rounded off their training camp with a 3-1 win over Japanese top-flight side Fagiano Okayama on Saturday (25/7). The Royal Blues fell behind to Léo Gaúcho’s opener (13’), but goals from Hasan Kuruçay (19’), Kenan Karaman (28’) and Junior Adamu (75’) turned the game around at the Silberstadt Arena in Schwaz.

Friendly

Dejan Ljubičić on swapping shirts with big names, saunas and ice baths and a long-awaited reunion

With Dejan Ljubičić in the middle of a well-earned summer holiday, his phone suddenly rang. Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick was getting in touch to call the Schalke midfielder up to the World Cup squad as a late replacement for Christoph Baumgartner. In an interview with schalke04.de, the 28-year-old looks back on his experience of the tournament, the little routine he has developed with a new teammate at the training camp, how he recovers best and which Austrian specialities he particularly enjoys.

Interview

Frank Baumann: We got the perfect deal with Max

Frank Baumann spoke at length to the media following Thursday’s (23/7) session at the training camp. The board member for sport discussed possible outgoings, new signing Maximilian Wöber and the importance of staying calm during difficult spells.

Training Camp

Mika Wallentowitz joins Greuther Fürth on loan

Mika Wallentowitz will spend the 2026/27 season on loan at SpVgg Greuther Fürth. The deal will run until 30th June 2027 and does not include an option to buy. The 18-year-old is under contract at Schalke until 30th June 2030.

Team

Youri Mulder: We’re gearing up for the new season together

Youri Mulder was in typically good spirits in Stubaital on Thursday (23/7). Speaking in front of a packed stand after the morning training session, the director of professional football discussed the signing of Maximilian Wöber, his impressions of pre-season so far and Schalke’s attacking options.

Training Camp

Miron Muslic: We stepped things up a gear

Schalke passed their first real test of the training camp with a 2-0 friendly win over FC Kharkiv on Wednesday (22/7). Head coach Miron Muslic was pleased with what he saw from his side beyond just the result.

Friendly

Luca Vozar sidelined for the time being

Luca Vozar sustained a painful bruise to his upper back in yesterday's friendly against Kharkiv. After a thorough examination, including imaging tests, a fracture was ruled out.

Team

Centre-back Maximilian Wöber joins FC Schalke 04

FC Schalke 04 have secured the services of experienced centre-back Maximilian Wöber. The 28-year-old was most recently under contract at Leeds United, having spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Bundesliga outfit SV Werder Bremen. Wöber’s career also includes stints at Borussia Mönchengladbach, RB Salzburg, Sevilla FC, Ajax and Rapid Vienna.

Team

Schalke impress in 2-0 training-camp win over FC Kharkiv

Schalke won the first of their two friendlies at their training camp in Austria on Wednesday (22/7). The Royal Blues beat Ukrainian side FC Kharkiv 2-0 at Stadion Kematen an der Melach Road, with Moussa Sylla (54’) and Bryan Lasme (64’) getting the goals against the top-flight outfit.

Friendly

Miron Muslic: We want to take the next step

Schalke will play their first friendly of the training camp in Austria on Wednesday (22/7), taking on FC Kharkiv at 16:00 CEST. Head coach Miron Muslic has a clear plan for the meeting with the Ukrainian top-flight side. “We’re now into the third week of pre-season and are managing the players’ workloads carefully. At the same time, though, we also want to step things up another level,” said the 43-year-old.

Friendly

Miron Muslic: It will be an intense period for the team

Head coach Miron Muslic spoke in detail after the team’s first session at training camp in the Stubai Valley on Monday (20/7). The 43-year-old discussed the work being done in Austria, his team and looked ahead to the upcoming Bundesliga season. schalke04.de have summed up all the key quotes.

Training Camp

28-man squad arrives in Stubaital for training camp

FC Schalke 04 arrived in Austria's Stubaital on Sunday evening (19/7), around an hour before kick-off in the World Cup final, having earlier beaten FC Erzgebirge Aue 4-2 in a pre-season friendly. Head coach Miron Muslic has taken a 28-man squad to Neustift, where the Royal Blues will spend the next week preparing for the 2026/27 season.

Training Camp

Sylla brace helps S04 to 4-2 friendly win at Erzgebirge Aue

FC Schalke 04 recorded a 4-2 win away to fourth-tier FC Erzgebirge Aue in their second pre-season friendly on Sunday (19/7), just before setting off for their training camp in the Stubai Valley. Moussa Sylla struck twice, with Christian Gomis and Bryan Lasme also on target.

Friendly

AGM 2026: The most important takeaways

A total of 5,000 members, 4,902 of whom were entitled to vote, attended Saturday’s (18/7) annual general meeting at the VELTINS-Arena. schalke04.de has summarised the key information and decisions from the six-hour event.

Inside

Robin Gosens returns to the Bundesliga with FC Schalke 04

As the Knappen return to the Bundesliga in 2026/27, they’ll have somebody in their ranks making his own homecoming. FC Schalke 04 have signed 24-cap Germany international Robin Gosens on an initial loan deal from ACF Fiorentina. The deal includes provisions that could make the 32-year-old’s move permanent. Robin Gosens returns to Germany after many years playing across the world at the highest level of football. The dynamic wing-back made his mark with FC Dordrecht and Heracles Almelo in the Netherlands before going on to represent Atalanta, Inter Milan and Fiorentina in Serie A, as well as 1. FC Union Berlin in the Bundesliga. Having made well over 400 competitive appearances across top leagues and the UEFA Champions League, he has recorded more than 100 goal contributions in his career to date.

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