Kaan Ayhan has joined Eintracht Frankurt on loan until the end of the season. - © © imago / Seksim Photo
Kaan Ayhan has joined Eintracht Frankurt on loan until the end of the season. - © © imago / Seksim Photo

Ayhan joins Frankfurt on loan

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Eintracht Frankfurt have signed promising young defender Kaan Ayhan on an initial six-month loan deal from FC Schalke 04.

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Come 30 June 2016, the Eagles, currently sitting in 14th place in the Bundesliga standings, will have the option to buy the 21-year-old, whose contract at Schalke expires in 2017.

"Of course it was difficult to leave Schalke," said Ayhan, who has been at the Royal Blues since the age of five, "but the sporting situation made a move necessary. My aim is to play as much as possible at Frankfurt."

Winter reinforcements

After strengthening their front line with the signings of Szabolcs Huszti and Marco Fabian, Ayhan's arrival will boost competition in the Frankfurt backline.

"Kaan is a central defender, but he can play almost anywhere in defence," said Eintracht's sporting director Bruno Hübner. "He is young and has lots of potential, but he has also has a lot of experience in the Bundesliga and international competition."

Ayhan has struggled to break into the Schalke first team this season, making just one appearance in the Bundesliga and four in the UEFA Europa League.