2019 in the talent calendar
©IMAGO
This article was first published on January 31st and was updated with new information on February 2nd.
After Edin Dzeko (39), Dejan Ljubicic (28) and Kevin Müller (34), FC Schalke 04 has achieved a breakthrough with the next well-known personnel. As both “Sky” and “WAZ” reported on Deadline Day, the Royal Blues have signed Adil Aouchiche (23). The flexible midfielder is currently on loan from AFC Sunderland to Aberdeen FC and is moving to the second division leaders on a free transfer.
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There were first reports of advanced negotiations at the weekend. Schalke coach Miron Muslic knows Aouchiche from his time in the Championship with Plymouth Argyle. As a loan player at Portsmouth FC, the Frenchman scored the goal to make it 1-2 against the Pilgrims on matchday 37 last season. In addition, Schalke’s new squad planner Maximilian Lüftl allegedly wanted to bring Aouchiche to his former club Hannover 96.
Aouchiche comes from the PSG academy. At the end of August 2019, shortly after becoming top scorer at the U17 European Championship, Aouchiche made his professional debut under coach Thomas Tuchel at the age of 17 years and one month. In the same year, Aouchiche was introduced to the German audience by Transfermarkt in the talent calendar. But due to a lack of playing minutes with the PSG professionals – Aouchiche scored one goal in three games – he decided to leave in the summer of 2020. At the time, Tuchel was “of course not happy” about it.
Schalke target Aouchiche nominated for “Golden Boy” in 2020
The offensive player nominated for the “Golden Boy” went to AS Saint-Étienne on a free transfer. Schalke is said to have shown interest even back then. At ASSE, Aouchiche immediately became a regular, but in the second year his playing time became less. This was followed by a move to FC Lorient and to Sunderland in England, where he also did not play a major role. He was initially loaned out to Portsmouth and last summer to Aberdeen.
Aouchiche was with the Scots for much of the first half of the season, contributing three goals and two assists in 30 appearances. Since coach Jimmy Thelin left at the beginning of January, Aouchiche has only made two short appearances in five games and twice he was not part of the squad at all. This was also the case on Saturday in the Premiership duel with Kilmarnock FC (0:3).
