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One centre-back has arrived from England, another has left for the UK as Schalke 04 bring in Shkodran Mustafi to replace Ozan Kabak.
Turkish international Ozan Kabak has joined Premier League champions Liverpool FC on loan for the rest of the season, with an option to buy included in the deal. Kabak is currently contracted at Schalke 04 until 2024.
At the same time, Shkodran Mustafi has moved to Gelsenkirchen. The 2014 FIFA World Cup winner, who was recently under contract at Arsenal FC, has signed a deal until the end of season at S04. Both parties agreed to keep the details of the deal undisclosed.
“You have to look at this transfer from two perspectives. Ozan Kabak leaving Schalke 04 makes a lot of sense financially, especially due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic,” said Jochen Schneider, Head of Sport and Communication. “On top of that, we believe that we’ve signed a very good centre-back in Shkodran Mustafi, who will fill the gap that Ozan will definitely leave.”
Ozan Kabak joined Schalke 04 in the summer of 2019 from VfB Stuttgart. The 20-year-old defender played 42 times for the Royal Blues in all competitions, scoring three goals. He has also won seven caps for his national side, Turkey.
Shkodran Mustafi’s career began in Hamburger SV’s academy. He joined Everton FC in 2009, before moving to Serie A outfit Sampdoria two-and-a-half years later. In August 2014, he signed for Spanish side CF Valencia. The defender, born in Bad Hersfeld, then made the move to Arsenal FC two years later. He was part of the Germany squad, which included Benedikt Höwedes, Julian Draxler, Mesut Özil and Manuel Neuer, that won the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The 28-year-old has played over 300 times in all competitions in his career so far.
