Bayer Leverkusen sign AS Roma striker Patrik Schick
Bayer Leverkusen have completed the signing of AS Roma and Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick, who spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Bundesliga rivals RB Leipzig.
The 24-year-old - a scorer of 10 goals in 28 competitive appearances for Leipzig - has signed a five-year deal. He will wear the No.14 shirt.
"With Patrik Schick we have signed an internationally renowned centre-forward who has shown his scoring qualities in both Serie A and in the Bundesliga very impressively and consistently," said Bayer sporting director Rudi Völler.
Schick started out in his native Prague for Sparta, before switching to Bohemians. He joined Italy's Sampdoria in summer 2016, scoring 11 goals across 32 Serie A matches in his debut season at the club. Two failed medicals denied the Czech forward a move to Juventus the following year, but didn't stop Roma from making him their record signing.
Eight goals across two injury-hit seasons preceded a fruitful loan spell at Leipzig, Schick's 10 Bundesliga goals and two assists helping the Saxony outfit finish third domestically, whilst reaching the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
Watch: Patrik Schick's top 5 Bundesliga goals for RB Leipzig
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Schick, who has nine goals to show for his first 22 senior international appearances for the Czech Republic, could make his competitive debut in Leverkusen colours in the Rhineland outfit's DFB Cup first-round meeting with minnows FC Eintracht Norderstedt on 13 September. He could face Leipzig two weeks later, on Bundesliga Matchday 2.
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