Danny Latza, former Schalke captain, has found a new club. The 34-year-old is moving to the Regionalliga West.

Fortuna Düsseldorf has signed Danny Latza for the U23 team. The experienced midfielder, who was under contract with FC Schalke 04 until the summer of 2024, will now join the Red & White’s U23 squad with immediate effect and is expected to help the Fortuna reserves in their relegation battle with his experience. Düsseldorf II is currently in 13th place in the Regionalliga West table with 16 points after 15 games.

The 34-year-old has played for FC Schalke 04, 1. FSV Mainz 05, VfL Bochum and SV Darmstadt 98 in his career to date. He has made 176 appearances in the Bundesliga and 90 appearances in the Bundesliga 2, among other things.

For the last three years, Latza has played for Schalke and even captained the team in the first two seasons. In 2022, Latza celebrated the second division championship title, but a year later the team was relegated from the Bundesliga again. Partly due to injuries, the Gelsenkirchen native “only” played 50 competitive games for his home club in these three years.

Now the central midfielder will continue in the Regionalliga West, much to the delight of Stefan Vollmerhausen, sporting director of the youth academy: “We are very happy that we were able to convince Danny to join Fortuna. With him, we are gaining a player with strong leadership skills who will immediately take on an important role both on and off the pitch. Danny has already experienced a lot in his career and therefore brings a wealth of experience with him. Our young team will benefit enormously from his qualities.”

When I received the offer from Fortuna, I didn’t have to think about it for long, because the discussions with the people in charge convinced me right from the start. I still have sporting ambitions, I want to help the team with my experience and give my all on the pitch.

Danny Latza.

Latza is also looking forward to his new challenge: “When the enquiry came from Fortuna, I didn’t have to think about it for long, because the discussions with the people in charge convinced me right from the start. I still have sporting ambitions, I want to help the team with my experience and give my all on the pitch. I want to show that right from the start and I’m all the more looking forward to the new challenge and getting to know the team.”