LONDON (AP) — Brentford has signed German winger Kevin Schade, initially on loan but with a club-record fee to make the deal permanent, as the West London club seeks to build for the future after establishing itself in the English Premier League.
Schade is a versatile 21-year-old known for his speed who can also play as a center-forward. He's shown significant potential in 29 career Bundesliga games, typically off the bench, and has four goals in five games for Germany's under-21 national team. He played only 12 games for Freiburg in the Bundesliga and Europa League this season after a stomach muscle injury kept him on the sidelines from March through September.
“We expect to make the deal permanent for a club-record undisclosed fee in the summer, with Schade set to sign a five-year contract,” Brentford said.
German media reported the future fee had been set at around 25 million euros ($26.5 million), which would be both a record signing for Brentford and a record sale for German Cup finalist Freiburg.
“He is willing to work very hard for his team. We see him as a player that could have a big potential to be a fine goal scorer and it is great to have him at Brentford. Our coaching staff are looking forward to working with him,” Brentford manager Thomas Frank said.
Schade joins a Brentford team which has entrenched itself in the Premier League mid-table in its second season with notable wins over the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.
Schade could add depth to the Brentford squad amid continuing uncertainty over top scorer Ivan Toney, who has been charged by the English Football Association with more than 260 breaches of the rules on gambling.
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