FC Schalke 04 have completed the signing of 1.FSV Mainz midfielder Johannes Geis on a four-year deal.
Geis joins for a reported 10 million Euros, despite interest from other clubs, most notably, Borussia Dortmund.
Talking about the deal, sporting director Horst Heldt was said to be "delighted" with signing one of the most "coveted young players," in German football.
Heldt was full of praise for Geis' "dangerous set pieces, his passing game and his ability to find a man in space," which makes the young German "one of the Bundesliga's best central defensive midfielders."
Geis was made captain of Mainz - which Heldt was delighted with the fact that at "such a young age, he [Geis] can and wants to take responsibility."
The 21-year old can't wait to get started in Royal Blue colours, stating that "playing in the [Veltins] Arena is something special," and that "Schalke facinates me."
Talks between new manager, André Breitenreiter and Heldt were "very positive," according to the young German, before saying that his move north could be "the start of something new."
Geis' journey to Schalke, via Fürth and Mainz
The 5’9’’ right-footer began his career at TSV Oberstreu close to Nuremberg, before he ended up in SpVgg Greuther Fürth’s youth setup in 2008 following spells at TSV Mittelstreu and TSV Großbardorf.
Geis made 45 appearances for Fürth’s first and reserve teams, scoring five goals. He then completed a switch to Mainz at the start of the 2013/14 season. Geis made 75 appearances for Mainz in the Bundesliga, contributing with six goals.
He has represented Germany at youth level from under-16 all the way through to the under-21's who he is playing with at the under-21 European Championship in the Czech Republic.
The club will hope the signing will help them improve on last season, when a disappointing Rückrunde saw them finish sixth in the Bundesliga.
Schalke confirmed the signing of Geis on Twitter this afternoon.