Schalke 04 have confirmed the signing of right-back Sascha Riether from relegated SC Freiburg. The German defender signed a one-year-contract until June 2016 and has the option of an additional year.
Riether will be the back-up for Atsuto Uchida
Schalke 04's have already signed a new right-back, Júnior Caiçara, but the usual starter, Atsuto Uchida, is still injured and will be back not until the second half of the season. This move could hit that Uchida is on his way out, especially if Caiçara and Reither impress.
Sporting director, Horst Heldt, also found a player with "maturity and personality" as he described in an interview. He said that "Schalke 04 have enough young and very talented players in the club". He feels it is important "that these players can talk with highly-experienced players and get some tips off them".
"Schalke wanted to sign me twice before"
In his first interview as a Knappe, Riether said that "Schalke wanted to sign me up twice before". He admitted he was "very delighted" that it finally worked out. His target is it to "be successful with the team" and he wants to "make a contribution" to reach this goal.
Riether has played 226 matches in the Bundesliga and 66 times in the Premier League. He made his debut with SC Freiburg in August 2002 and moved to VfL Wolfsburg after five years with the Breisgauer.
As a regular player for the Wolves, Riether became a Bundesliga champion for the first time and played his part in their subsequent Champions League campaign.
Two years after the success, he moved to 1. FC Köln and was loaned out to Fulham in his second year at the Carnival club. After this temporary move, Fulham signed him up permanently and the club were relegated to the Sky Bet Championship.
Last summer, the 32-year-old moved back to his former club SC Freiburg and made 19 appearances. Unfortunately, once again, he was relegated with the club where it all began for him. In this new season, Riether has the chance to play in the Europa League with the Königsblauen.