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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Mertcan Ayhan signing his contract sat alongside Max Lüftl and Youri Mulder.

Mertcan Ayhan made 27 appearances during Schalke’s promotion-winning season, completing the full 90 minutes in 17 of them. He also made his debut for Turkey U21s in March 2026.

Youri Mulder, Schalke 04’s director of professional football, commented: “Mertcan’s journey shows what is possible at Schalke. As someone from this city, he embodies so much of what we value. He has a real connection with Schalke and brings exactly the attitude we want to see every single day. We’re certain that Mertcan can continue to develop extremely well as part of our team and that he has the ability and attitude to become an important player for us over the coming years. We’ll give him our full support every step of the way.”

there are so many experienced players here who I can learn from as I continue my development.

Mertcan Ayhan

For Mertcan Ayhan, the extension means far more than simply putting pen to paper: “I started playing football here when I was seven. Schalke 04 is my club. My whole family has an incredibly close connection with this club. I’m grateful to everyone at Schalke for the trust they’ve placed in me. Last season, I made my professional debut and was part of an incredible campaign. I just really enjoy being part of this team, and there are so many experienced players here who I can learn from as I continue my development. That’s how I want to carry on at Schalke: staying humble and grounded, while of course remaining ambitious and determined.”

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