Yevhen Konoplyanka has left Sevilla to join Schalke 04 on loan for the season, with there an option to buy at the end of the term.
Despite his contributions to the Spanish club's superb 2015-16 season, which saw them win the Europa League for a third year running and reach the Copa del Rey final, Konoplyanka has been out-of-favour since Jorge Sampaoli took the reins from Unai Emery.
The wideman scored nine goals last year as his pace and power proved to be too potent for many of La Liga's defences, and those in Europe too, and he will look to continue that form with a Schalke side who started their season with a disappointing opening day defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.
With Leroy Sane having left to join Manchester City, the Bundesliga outfit are somewhat lacking both in the wide department and in terms of speed on the attack, and so Konoplyanka will be a welcome addition to their team.
Delight at the Veltins-Arena
After confirmation of the move, Schalke 04's official website was littered with positive reaction.
Manager Markus Weinzierl was keen to praise Konoplyanka, who he feels will add a lot of quality to his team this season.
“We’re delighted to have signed a quick winger with an eye for goal,” he stated, continuing by saying his new addition will bring "a lot of experience with him" to the club, having "frequently appeared on the international stage.”
Konoplyanka was part of the Ukraine team that went to Euro 2016 this summer, albeit one who underwhelmed as they went out at the group stages with a whimper.
However, with Sporting Director Christian Heidel revealing that the club have been "tracking Yevhen for a while," Schalke may have been secretly pleased with this.
Ukraine's fortunes meant little attention was paid to Konoplyanka by the many scouts in France this summer, and now the German club can be happy with their latest transfer business.