On Sunday, FC Schalke 04’s U19s will play in Potsdam in the DFB Cup final. Kick-off against 1. FC Köln is at 11 am. Beforehand, S04 extended two contracts.

Two FC Schalke 04 players are likely to go into the DFB Cup U19 final with an extra dose of adrenaline. Because on Tuesday, the Königsblauen announced the contract extension with two of their youth jewels.

Ngufor Anubodem and Emmanuel Gyamfi will receive follow-up contracts and will also play for the Königsblauen in the 2023/24 season. “We are pleased that we have been able to bind two more top performers from the current U19 team to the club,” said Mathias Schober, Director Knappenschmiede & Development. “We are convinced that the boys will now also take the next steps in their development at senior level.”

Anubodem moved to the Knappen in 2018 from Rot-Weiss Essen. The full-back featured in all 15 A-youth Bundesliga matches and the four DFB Cup matches so far this season and, like Gyamfi, should also be seeded in the final.

The 18-year-old Anubodem was an U16 and 17 international for Germany, but was not considered after that. He had already been linked with Dutch Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar in the past. Interestingly, his younger brother Takang Anubodem is moving from S04’s U17s to VfL Bochum’s U19s for the new season.

Gyamfi has also extended his contract. The left-footer joined S04 from Fortuna Düsseldorf in 2019. He also played all 19 competitive games so far this season for the U19s.

Both are likely to be initially scheduled for the Königsblauen’s U23s, coached by Jakob Fimpel, in the Regionalliga West next season. There they can first gain a foothold in senior soccer and prove their worth. The fact that the path from the Knappenschmiede U23 to the pros is sometimes short should provide further motivation.