Leeds United centre-back Wober joins Schalke on a free transfer, signing a contract until June 2027.

Bundesliga newcomers Schalke 04 announced on Wednesday that Austrian center-back Maximilian Wöber has joined the club on a free transfer. This followed his agreement with Leeds United to terminate his contract, which was set to expire next summer.

According to the official statement, Vober will play for Schalke until the end of the 2026/27 season. Other reports indicate that his salary at Schalke will be highly dependent on his performance and playing time.

The 28-year-old Wöber came through the Rapid Vienna youth academy and made his professional debut for the first team in the Europa League on February 26, 2016. He subsequently played for Ajax, Sevilla, and Red Bull Salzburg, winning one Eredivisie title, one Dutch Cup, four Austrian Bundesliga titles, and three Austrian Cups.

In January 2023, Warber joined Leeds United for €12 million. Hampered by a knee injury, he has only made 24 appearances for Leeds United so far, scoring 2 goals.

In an effort to regain his best form, Wöber joined Werder Bremen on loan last season. However, he was plagued by injuries and missed many games at Bremen, ultimately making only three appearances in total.

Despite this, Schalke 04's sporting director, Yuri Mulder, remains confident in Wöber. He stated in a press release: "Maximilian Wöber joined with over 170 top-flight league appearances. His experience at Borussia Mönchengladbach and Werder Bremen has also made him very familiar with the Bundesliga. We believe he can return to his peak form at Schalke."

“Our coaching staff will work closely with Milon Muslić. As a player, his characteristics allow us to flexibly deploy him in a variety of different defensive formations.”

Wöber stated, "From the beginning, Schalke 04 was a choice I was very excited about. After several positive discussions, I am very much looking forward to taking on new challenges at such a special club. Schalke's promotion to the Bundesliga is entirely well-deserved."

“For me, playing in the Bundesliga for Schalke 04 is an exciting challenge. I now hope to adapt to the new environment as soon as possible and get to know my new teammates.”

Image source: Internet/Schalke 04 official website