Schalke 04 today announced the signing of Manchester City's Serbian centre-half Matija Nastasic on a loan deal until the end of the season with a view to a permanent deal.
Nastasic, 21, has found playing opportunities limited this season having turned out just once for the reigning Premier League Champions.
Fellow Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal appeared to be front runners to sign the former Fiorentina defender, but he instead opted to move to the club from Gelsenkirchen.
Schalke could also confirm that a fee was agreed with City, in regards to a possible permanent move, but it was not disclosed to the press.
Roberto di Matteo's men, currently fifth in the Bundesliga table, are in Qatar for a Winter break training camp and it remains unknown whether or not the Serbian defender will join up with his new team-mates in the Middle East or when they return to Germany.