FC Schalke 04 has recently pushed forward with its plans for the future and awarded a young talent a professional contract. Vitalie Becker has committed to the Royal Blues until the end of June 2027. The new working paper comes into force on July 1, 2024.
The left-back is an undisputed regular for the Knappen’s U19 team and has already been directly involved in nine goals with three goals and six assists in 20 games in the 2023/24 season. However, the 18-year-old’s last goal caused only limited celebrations.
In the 1-1 draw against SC Paderborn on February 25th, Becker scored his second league goal of the current season, but the result against East Westphalia may have also buried the Royal Blue talents’ last hopes of keeping league leaders Borussia Dortmund from the top of the season to displace West. Borussia are now 14 points ahead.
Either way, FC Schalke 04 can hope that Becker will be a reinforcement for the professional squad in the future. This was already made clear when the signature was announced:
“We are very pleased to be able to retain Vitalie, a talented boy from the region, with us on a long-term basis and welcome him to the professionals on a permanent basis from the summer onwards. He has earned the jump into the professional team with consistently good performances in the youth ranks,” comments sports director Marc Wilmot’s signature in an official announcement on “schalke04.de”. “Vitalie has gone through all of Knappenschmiede’s youth teams since the U9, worked hard and continued to develop.”
Chances at FC Schalke 04 should be good
“In the test matches and in the training camp, Vitalie took his first steps with the team and showed good things. He is a young player who is eager to assert himself at Schalke. We will support him and give him the time he needs,” Coach Karel Geraerts explained the further plan for Becker.
The chances of games for the professionals should at least be good: with Thomas Ouwejan and Derry-John Murkin, there are currently only two left-backs in the Knappen squad, Ouwejan’s contract ends after the season. There isn’t much evidence of an extension at the moment.
Murkin is tied to FC Schalke 04 until 2026, Becker could act as a backup for the Englishman.