Austrian free-kick specialist Fuchs joins Schalke

June 07, 2011 | 08:21

(0) user say

Austrian international left-back Christian Fuchs has joined Champions League semi-finalists Schalke 04 from fellow German league side Mainz for around five million euros, it was announced Monday.

The 25-year-old defender, who captained Austria in the 2-1 defeat to Germany in a Euro 2012 qualifier on Friday, will sign a four-year contract, Schalke have confirmed.

"The idea of playing for Schalke gives me goosebumps," said Fuchs, who is a dead-ball expert.

"The club has a fantastic stadium and fans, they won the UEFA Cup in 1997 and they reached the Champions League semi-finals last season."

The German Cup winners have utilised an option in Fuchs' contract at Mainz to allow him to leave for a multi-million euros deal.

"We have been unable to find a permanent solution in his position over the last few years," said Schalke's director of sport Horst Heldt.

"Christian Fuchs has the athletic ability we need.

"He has already shown his ability by helping Mainz reach the Europa League."

Schalke's Germany defender Christian Pander has laboured with injuries in recent seasons and coach Felix Magath has experimented with players like Sergio Escudero and Ghana's Hans Sarpei in the left-back position.

With Pander's contract set to expire at the end of June, his future in Gelsenkirchen now looks questionable.

AFP

What the stars mean:

★ Poor ★ ★ Promising ★★★ Good ★★★★ Very good ★★★★★ Exceptional