Official | Schalke 04 snap up Australian talent Dylan Leonard on a free | OneFootball

One of FC Schalke 04’s summer transfer targets will be moving to Gelsenkirchen after all. The 2. Bundesliga outfit was keen on securing the services of Australia U19 international Dylan Leonard, but could not agree to terms with centre-back’s A League side, Western United FC.

The Melbourne-based club’s ongoing financial crisis ultimately led to the Australian FA revoking its license after a sale to a stable financial entity fell through. As a result, Western United were ejected from the A-League and all players automatically released from their contracts.

Leonard joins Germany’s Königsblauen on a free transfer. The right-footer signed a contract with S04 valid until 2030 on Monday.

“In Dylan, we are signing a very young and talented centre-back,” Schalke managing director Yuri Mulder noted in a club statement. “We will give him time at Schalke to settle in Europe over the coming months. He has decided to take a big step at a young age. That illustrates the ambition with which Dylan pursues his goals.”

“I’m very happy to be here and already gained a lot of great impressions over the weekend,” the player himself added. “During our conversations, the Schalke officials showed me a very interesting path, which I now want to follow together with them.”

GGFN | Peter Weis