Transfer news: Schalke sign Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting on three-year deal from Mainz
Saturday 5 July 2014 16:38, UK
Schalke have completed the signing of striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting on a three-year deal from Mainz.
The 25-year-old, who was a former Hamburg youth player and made his debut for the first team in 2007, joins Jens Keller's squad on a free transfer until June 2017.
The Cameroon international has scored 20 goals in 74 Bundesliga appearances for Mainz since joining the club in the 2011/12 season.
Choupo-Moting was at the 2014 World Cup with the Indomitable Lions and featured in all three of Cameroon's Group A defeat's against Mexico, Croatia and hosts Brazil before they exited the competition.
Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt told his club's official website: "I'm delighted that Eric Maxim has decided to sign for us.
"He is very versatile, but first and foremost our plan is to use him in a central, attacking position."
The Royal Blues have qualified for the Champions League in each of the last three seasons, but they have found themselves in a different league to Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, who have shared the Bundesliga title between them over the past five years.
They kick off their season with a trip to Hannover on August 23 before a tough first home match against Bayern the following weekend.