On Thursday, SpVgg Greuther Fürth announced that Stephan Schröck had left the club to join Ceres La Salle on loan. The deal is set to last eight months.
An interesting switch
The Philippines international has lost his place in the Shamrocks' side and had been told earlier in the window that he could leave.
However, it was not in the script that a return back to his homeland - to Ceres La Salle - would occur.
The versatile wing-back looked set for a stay in Germany, possibly even in the same division, but a return home is quite a surprise.
Familiar faces and friends
Naturally, this is a massive moment for the domestic league in the Philippines to have a player like Schröck in their league.
Aside from the 29-year-old, only Stephan Palla, Iain Ramsay and Neil Etheridge play football at a notable level abroad.
There will be a very familiar face at his new club, however. Manuel Ott, who was at FC Ingolstadt 04 and 1860 München, left Germany to join Ceres back in 2014.
Patrick Reichelt will also be another recognisable name to Schröck; another Filipino born in Munich, who had a short stint at Energie Cottbus.
A warm welcome
"It's no April Fool's joke. The long-awaited moment has come." It was not an understated introduction for the country's most high-profile player.
"I am excited about what now awaits me in the league and everyday in the Philippines," he said.
Schröck added, "This step is exciting for me, even though everyone knows what the Spielvereinigung means to me."
The 2. Bundesliga side's sporting director, Martin Meichelbeck, explained how the loanee feels "a great social responsibility" in his homeland.