Official | Mainz’ Aymen Barkok moves joins Schalke 04 | OneFootball

Mainz’ Aymen Barkok is heading back to the 2. Bundesliga, joining Schalke. In public statements accompanying the transaction, both clubs noted that they have agreed not to disclose the terms of the transfer. According to Dominik Theis, however, Barkok will be moving to die Königsblauen on a free transfer.

It thus appears as if Mainz and Barkok have agreed to terminate the player’s contract. Accordingly, Schalke have evidently opted to sign the 26-year-old to a short-term six-month deal. Should no extension come, Barkok will be a free-agent at the end of the season.

Barkok enjoyed two solid seasons (2016/17 and 2020/21) playing for Eintracht Frankfurt in the German top flight. It was during these campaigns that he scored four of his five Bundesliga goals. He moved to Mainz on a free following the 2021/22 season, ultimately scoring only one goal for the Rheinhessen.

Barkok’s estimated market value has sunk from a career high of €3.5m in September 2021 to €700,000. Kicker reports that he’s agreed to take a significant pay cut ahead of his move to the Ruhrpott.

“Aymen is a midfielder than can provide our game with a new dynamic from several different positions,” S04 personnel chief Youri Mulder noted in a club statement. “He has the experience of over 100 Bundesliga games [115 to be precise] and won’t take long to settle in here at Schalke.”

“I’m really pleased to have been given the chance to show what I’m capable of at Schalke over the next few months,” Barkok himself added. “I want to put in some good performances to help the team and the club as much as I possibly can.”

GGFN | Peter Weis