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

Some FC Schalke 04 fans will have been holding their breath: when the transfer window closed in Germany 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, previously on loan from AFC Sunderland to Scottish Premier League club FC Aberdeen, has signed a contract with Schalke until 2027.

“Adil fits very well into our philosophy with his intensity and game intelligence. As a box-to-box player, he will be an exciting option for our game, with strong physicality, high work rate, and good dynamics in the first few meters,“ said Youri Mulder, Director of Professional Football, describing the new signing. ”Adil recognizes situations early, is constantly available for passes, and has the confidence to play risky balls. We are very happy to have him on board.”

At just 23 years of age, Aouchiche nevertheless brings a wealth of international experience with him: including 81 appearances in Ligue 1, 48 in the English second division (Championship) and 20 in the Scottish Premiership. In the current season, he has made a total of 30 appearances for Aberdeen (three goals, two assists).

“When the call came, I was very happy and immediately excited about Schalke,” explains Aouchiche. “We have a lot to do, and I want to do my part to ensure we have a successful second half of the season. I want to show that in every training session.”

The multiple French youth international was trained in the Paris St. Germain youth academy, where he made his debut at the age of 17 under Thomas Tuchel. Who was on the pitch with him at the time? Seasoned top players such as Angel Di Maria and Thiago Silva. After spells at AS St.-Étienne and FC Lorient, he ended up in England with AFC Sunderland in 2023.