Schalke open contract talks with Karius and Džeko after Bundesliga return
Freshly promoted back to the Bundesliga after three seasons away, Schalke are working to extend the contracts of Loris Karius and Edin Džeko as they shape their squad for the top flight.
Schalke 04 are working to extend the contracts of goalkeeper Loris Karius and striker Edin Džeko following the club's promotion back to the Bundesliga. Schalke earned promotion from the 2. Bundesliga in the 2025–26 season after spending three seasons outside the German top flight.
FC Schalke 04 are working to extend the contracts of goalkeeper Loris Karius and striker Edin Džeko as the club prepares for life back in the Bundesliga. The Gelsenkirchen club, based in the Schalke district of the city in North Rhine-Westphalia, earned promotion from the 2. Bundesliga in the 2025–26 season. The return ends a three-season absence from the top flight, one of the most turbulent periods in the club's history. Tying down Karius and Džeko would give Schalke experience at both ends of the pitch ahead of their first Bundesliga campaign since relegation. The moves come as the club shapes its squad for the step up in competition, with reports also suggesting midfielder Junior Dina Ebimbe has signed a contract running until 2028. For a club of Schalke's size and support, re-establishing itself in the top division is the priority — and retaining proven players is the first step.
Schalke move to tie down Karius and Džeko
Schalke are working to extend the contracts of goalkeeper Loris Karius and striker Edin Džeko as the club prepares for its return to the Bundesliga. The two veterans are among the most recognisable names in the squad, and keeping them would provide continuity as the Gelsenkirchen club readjusts to top-flight football.
The moves come at a pivotal moment. Schalke earned promotion from the 2. Bundesliga in the 2025–26 season, ending a three-year absence from the top flight, and the club now faces the task of shaping a squad capable of competing at that level. Securing experienced players on new terms is a clear part of that effort.
What remains unclear is how far the process has advanced. It is not yet known when Schalke began the extension talks, nor what terms are being discussed with either player. The length of any new deal, and whether negotiations with Karius and Džeko are progressing at the same pace, have not been disclosed.
Back in the Bundesliga after three years away
Schalke 04 will play Bundesliga football again in the coming season after winning promotion from the 2. Bundesliga in 2025–26. The promotion ends a three-season absence from the top flight, a spell that tested one of German football's best-supported clubs.
The club is based in the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, in the heart of the Ruhr industrial region. Few clubs in Germany carry a comparable following, and the years outside the Bundesliga were felt keenly by a support base accustomed to top-flight football.
Returning to the Bundesliga restores Schalke to the division they regard as their natural home. It also changes the club's position off the pitch, from the calibre of opposition on the fixture list to the commercial and sporting demands of competing at the highest level. For a club of Schalke's size and history, promotion is less a triumph than the first step in re-establishing themselves among Germany's elite.
David Wagner won the UEFA Cup with Schalke 04 as a player.
David Wagner took over as head coach of FC Schalke 04.
David Wagner became head coach of a Swiss club.
Soufiane El-Faouzi scored the goal against Elversberg that later earned him the Goal of the Season award.
Schalke earned promotion from the 2. Bundesliga back to the Bundesliga after three seasons outside the top flight.
Soufiane El-Faouzi received the Bundesliga 2 Goal of the Season trophy.
El-Faouzi's award and Ebimbe's long-term deal
Two other pieces of individual recognition have marked Schalke's season. According to reports, Soufiane El-Faouzi received the 2025/26 Bundesliga 2 Goal of the Season trophy, an award earned for a strike against SV Elversberg in April. Reports suggest the goal stood out among the division's best of the campaign, giving the club a further reason to celebrate alongside its promotion.
The club has also reportedly secured one of its players on a long-term basis. According to reports, Junior Dina Ebimbe has signed a contract with Schalke running until 2028. The exact date of the signing has not been confirmed, but a deal of that length would tie the player to Gelsenkirchen well into the club's return to the top flight. Neither claim has been formally confirmed by the club, and details remain subject to official announcement.
Wagner's place in Schalke's recent history
David Wagner embodies the club's recent highs and lows. As a player, he won the UEFA Cup with Schalke in the 1996/97 season, one of the great nights in Gelsenkirchen's history. He returned as head coach for the 2019/20 campaign, a tenure that preceded the club's slide from the top flight. By 2021/22 he had moved on to take charge of a Swiss club.
Elsewhere in Schalke coverage, the name of Assan Ouédraogo has circulated. The German midfielder plays for RB Leipzig and the Germany national team, and his connection to the club in recent reporting remains unclear.
Frequently asked questions
When did Schalke get promoted back to the Bundesliga?
Schalke earned promotion back to the Bundesliga from the 2. Bundesliga in the 2025–26 season, ending a three-season absence from the top flight. The club, based in the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, will now prepare for its first Bundesliga campaign since relegation. Details of their squad plans for the return season have not been confirmed.
Are Schalke extending Loris Karius and Edin Džeko's contracts?
Yes. Schalke are working to extend the contracts of goalkeeper Loris Karius and striker Edin Džeko as the club prepares for its return to the Bundesliga following promotion from the 2. Bundesliga in the 2025–26 season. The timing of when talks began and the specific terms under discussion have not been disclosed.
Who won the Bundesliga 2 Goal of the Season award in 2025/26?
Soufiane El-Faouzi received the 2025/26 Bundesliga 2 Goal of the Season trophy, according to reports. He won the award for a goal scored against Elversberg in April. The details of when he joined Schalke and his role at the club have not been confirmed in available coverage.
What is David Wagner's history with Schalke 04?
David Wagner won the UEFA Cup with Schalke as a player in the 1996/97 season. He later returned as head coach for the 2019/20 season, before moving on to take charge of a Swiss club for the 2021/22 season. The identity of that Swiss club has not been confirmed in the available reporting.
How long is Junior Dina Ebimbe's contract at Schalke?
According to reports, Junior Dina Ebimbe signed a contract with Schalke running until 2028. The exact date of the signing has not been confirmed. The reported deal would keep him at the Gelsenkirchen club as it embarks on its first Bundesliga season following promotion from the 2. Bundesliga in 2025–26.
Compiled from reporting by 4 independent outlets. How we source our reporting.
