Schalke confirm Johannes Geis signing
June 23, 2015
Johannes Geis will be wearing blue next season after Schalke confirmed the signing of the midfield talent on Tuesday morning. The 21-year-old will wear the number five jersey.
Schalke did not disclose the transfer fee, but Geis is reported to have fetched around 11 million euros ($12.4 million) for Mainz on leaving for the Gelsenkirchen side. Despite currently being away on international duty with Germany's U21 team at the U21 European Championships in the Czech Republic, the midfielder has signed a four-year contract with Schalke until 2019.
"Schalke fascinated me, the stadium, the fans. It's something special playing in this arena. I want to roll up my sleeves and give it my all. The discussions with [commercial manager] Horst Heldt and [head coach] Andre Breintenreiter convinced me. Something new can happen here and I want to be a part of it," read a statement from Geis on the club's website.
"We are very happy that one of the most coveted young players has opted for our club. Johannes has enormous quality: His dangerous set-pieces, precise passing and vision make him one of the best defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga. The fact he has taken on the captaincy at such a young age in Mainz shows that he is both capable and wants to take responsibility," read a quote from Schalke's Heldt on the club's website.
Geis was one of the most highly sought-after Bundesliga players this summer, with Borussia Dortmund reported as favorites to sign him. BVB Head Coach Thomas Tuchel's connection with Geis - the pair worked together at Mainz - was an apparent a factor.
jh/msh (dpa)