FC Schalke 04 has announced its fourth new signing of the winter transfer window. Adil Aouchiche will bolster the Royal Blues’ midfield.

Some FC Schalke 04 fans must have been holding their breath: When the transfer window in Germany closed at 8 p.m., the second-division club had not yet announced Adil Aouchiche as a new signing. But as S04 announced a good half-hour later, the transfer of the central midfielder has gone through.

Aouchiche, who had previously been on loan from AFC Sunderland to Scottish Premiership club FC Aberdeen, has signed a contract with Schalke through 2027.

“With his intensity and game intelligence, Adil fits very well into our philosophy. As a box-to-box player, he’ll be an exciting option for our game, with strong physicality, high work rate, and good dynamism in the opening meters,” said Youri Mulder, Director of Professional Soccer, describing the new signing. “Adil reads the game early, is consistently available as a passing option, and isn’t afraid to play risky balls. We’re very happy to have him on board.”

At just 23 years old, Aouchiche nevertheless brings a wealth of international experience: including 81 appearances in Ligue 1, 48 in England’s second division (Championship), and 20 in the Scottish Premiership. This season, he has taken the field a total of 30 times for Aberdeen (three goals, two assists).

“When I got the call, I was really happy and immediately excited about joining Schalke,” explains Aouchiche. “We have big plans, and I want to do my part to help us have a successful second half of the season. I want to show that in every training session.”

The player, who has represented France’s junior national teams on numerous occasions, came up through the youth ranks at Paris St. Germain, where he made his debut at age 17 under Thomas Tuchel. Who was on the field with him back then? Established top players like Angel Di Maria and Thiago Silva. After stints with AS St.-Étienne and FC Lorient, he ended up in England with AFC Sunderland in 2023.