FC Augsburg have today confirmed the signing of young Swiss striker, Albian Ajeti, from FC Basel on a four and a half year contract until 2020. Both clubs have agreed to keep the fee undisclosed.
Ajeti, who has also been on trial at Newcastle United prior to this move, had made twenty one appearances for his previous Swiss side after an extensive youth career in the Northern city beginning at the age of nine. He scored six goals in both the Raiffeisen League and the Swiss Cup.
He will soon be re-united with his former team-mates, as die Fuggerstädter face FC Basel in a winter friendly at the end of the month.
A new challenge
The striker was keen to state that he is eager to start this new chapter of his short career. He said, "I am convinced that I have found, in Augsburg, a great environment to develop myself as a young player and to bring my talents to the team".
"Albian Ajeti is a young and talented players, who we would like to give the opportunity to continue his develop talents here in Augsburg," the Schwaben Bavarian side managing director, Stefan Reuter, told the club website. He added "We are convinced that he can take the next step in his career in our team. In return we will give him time."
"We are convinced that he can take the next step in his career in our team" - Stefan Reuter
Big sixth months ahead
Albian Ajeti joins the WWK Arena side ahead of a big sixth months, and second half of the Bundesliga season. After qualifying for the Europa League last season, Markus Weinzierl's side had struggled domestically early in the season however they have recovered and find themselves in twelfth position during the winter break.
In terms of their European campaign, die Fuggerstädter successfully navigated a tricky group containing Athletic Bilbao, AZ Alkmaar and Partizan Belgrade. The final game, against the Serbian side, will prove to go down as one of FC Augsburg's greatest moments. A late Caiuby strike saw Weinzierl's team qualify at the death for the knockout stages.
The Swiss striker, will have a number of talented forwards to contend with at the WWK Arena. Club talisman, Raul Bobadilla along with Ji Dong-Won, Tim Matavz and Nikola Durdic - who has returned from a loan spell with Malmo - will provide competition for the incoming Ajeti. However, another Augsburg attacker Sascha Mölders has departed for second tier 1860 Munich on loan.
Ajeti will follow a path also made by current Fuggerstädter striker, Bobadilla. The Paraguyuan-Argentine moved to FC Augsburg from the Swiss giants in 2013 following an earlier spell with Borussia Mönchengladbach. Since then Bobadilla has become one of the Bundesliga's most feared striker, with his pace and power and as such Weinzierl and Reuter will certainly be hoping that Albian Ajeti can follow a similar path to his new team-mate.
