Schröder switch to Leipzig about to be finalised, this is the transfer fee

It was no longer a secret in the football scene, now it is perfect: Rouven Schröder, previously under contract with Schalke 04, is moving to Leipzig.

It still seemed to be the great love in the summer of 2022 – now the contractual relationship between FC Schalke 04 and former sporting director Rouven Schröder is coming to a very unromantic end. The 47-year-old Schröder is moving to RB Leipzig, to start as early as 1 March. Schalke will collect a transfer fee of around 500,000 euros, as RevierSport knows. Sport Bild reported first.

In Leipzig, Schröder will meet sports director Max Eberl. The two have been close friends for many years. Eberl was also the one who wanted to bring Schröder to Borussia Mönchengladbach as his own successor – but the move did not materialise in January 2022. Now the two work together.

For Schröder, it is already his sixth club in 13 years as an official, having already worked at 1. FC Nürnberg (2010/11, video analyst and scout), Greuther Fürth (2012 to 2014, sporting director), Werder Bremen (2014 to 2016, director of professional football and scouting), Mainz 05 (2016 to 2020, sporting director) and now Schalke.

After Schalke’s relegation on 1 May 2021, he took over as sports director and rebuilt the squad with 45 transfers – with success: Schalke immediately returned to the Bundesliga. Schröder was a hero for the fans, was sometimes revered as “Don Rouven” – because he was not only professionally convincing, but also got many fans behind him with his charismatic appearance. “I wouldn’t mind if Schalke became my life’s work,” he once said.

Schalke - Stuttgart25. February 2023 — Schalke – Stuttgart25. February 2023

In the summer of 2022, however, he made several mistakes in squad planning, the biggest being the signing of coach Frank Kramer. In October 2022, he then resigned – not only because of the mistakes, but also because he showed little ability to take criticism. Did he already have an enquiry from Leipzig at that time? That will probably not be clarified.

To date, the Königsblauen have not filled Schröder’s job. Sporting director Peter Knäbel is currently planning the squad together with chief scout André Hechelmann and sports consultant René Grotus.