VfL Bochum has announced a new addition to its U19 Bundesliga team. A 16-year-old talent comes from FC Schalke 04.

VfL Bochum’s search for new players for their U19 team has led them to FC Schalke 04, their rivals in the Revierrival. Takang Anubodem will transfer from the Schalke squad to the Bochum talent factory in the summer.

The 16-year-old is playing for the U17s of the Königsblauen this season and is expected to become an integral part of the U19s at VfL in the coming season. According to a statement from Bochum, Anubodem has been given a “long-term contract”.

Anubodem is a “type of player who fits extremely well with our philosophy”, Bochum squad planner David Siebers is quoted as saying about the new signing. We are delighted that Takang has chosen the VfL path. He is a highly talented player who has held his own with the West German U17 champions and has played all league games.”

Anubodem may even move to Bochum as a newly-crowned German champion. For with Schalke he is in the final round for the title in the highest German U17 class, will meet Arminia Bielefeld in the semi-finals (1 April, 10 April).

Bochum has shown me a promising perspective.

Takang Anubodem

In the regular season, Anubodem was in the starting eleven in all games and was only substituted twice early. He thus completed the most minutes of action of all Schalke players. Anubodem had moved to Gelsenkirchen from Borussia Dortmund’s youth team in 2018.

“VfL is a very familiar club that radiates a lot of warmth. I am very, very proud to be able to be a part of this club from the summer onwards,” says the talent about his move. Anubodem continues: “Bochum has shown me a promising perspective, for which I am very grateful. I’m looking forward to the coming years and hope to play for VfL for a long time. “