Former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius has signed with Schalke, marking a return to German football for the 31-year-old. Karius had been a free agent since his contract with Newcastle United ended in the summer of 2024.
Schalke, currently 13th in Bundesliga 2 following their relegation from the top tier in the 2022-23 season, hope Karius’ experience will bolster their squad as they aim for a stronger second half of the campaign.
In his first remarks as a Schalke player, Karius expressed enthusiasm about joining the historic club. “I had very good discussions with the Schalke officials and I’m looking forward to training with the team,” he said. “Schalke 04 is a big club with passionate fans—I’ve always felt that during my games in the arena.”
Karius is best known for his time at Liverpool from 2016 to 2022, where he made 49 appearances, including a notable but difficult outing in the 2018 UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid. Following loan spells at Besiktas and Union Berlin, Karius joined Newcastle United in September 2022 but made just two appearances during his tenure.
At Schalke, Karius will compete with Justin Heekeren for the starting goalkeeper position. Schalke’s director of professional football, Youri Mulder, welcomed Karius’ arrival, highlighting his top-level experience. “We didn’t want to see any loss of quality in the goalkeeper team. By signing Loris Karius, we’ve ensured that. He is fit and can join team training immediately. He will challenge Justin Heekeren, who remains our number one.”
Schalke are set to resume their season after the winter break with an away fixture against Braunschweig on Saturday. Karius’ arrival adds depth to the squad as they push to climb the league standings.
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