The return of Holstein Kiel wingback Timo Becker to 2. Bundesliga side Schalke 04 has been confirmed. The German second division outfit officially unveiled their “Child of the [Fan] Kurve” with much fanfare on Monday evening. Becker rejoins the club he supported as a young man on a free transfer and has signed a four-year-deal.
Born in the town of Hecken, not far from Gelsenskichen, Becker played in Schalke’s Knappenschmiede academy from 2007 to 2013. After moving to Rot-Weiß Essen for six years, he returned to Schalke in 2019. The 28-year-old now makes his third S04 return after a three-year-absence. Already a vice captain with Kiel, it stands to reason that the 28-year-old will be part of Schalke’s leadership council next season. Kiel’s actual skipper, Lewis Holtby, has also announced his departure after the season.
“We are pleased that he will be playing for Schalke again after the season,” Schalke sporting director Youri Mulder noted in a club press release. “Timo has developed very well in recent years and has matured into a leading player in the Bundesliga in Kiel. We all know what it means to Timo to wear the S04 jersey again in the future and to play an important role in our team.“
“I considered it important to make my decision public in lieu of Kiel’s relegation situation,” the player himself added in his own statement. ”Playing at Schalke again from this summer onwards will be something special. The club have shown me very clearly what our joint path will look like in the coming years.”
GGFN | Peter Weis
