Shkodran Mustafi (l.) has joined Schalke from Arsenal until the end of the season. - © Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

bundesliga

Schalke sign Shkodran Mustafi to replace Liverpool-bound Ozan Kabak

01.02.2021

Schalke have signed experienced centre-back Shkodran Mustafi from Arsenal on a deal until the end of the 2020/21 season as a replacement for Ozan Kabak, who has joined Liverpool on loan.

Mustafi, 28, was part of the Germany squad that won the 2014 FIFA World Cup but has never played in the Bundesliga. The defender came through the youth academy at Hamburg before joining Everton in 2009.

Moves to Italy with Sampdoria and Spain with Valencia followed before a return to England with Arsenal in 2016, where he set a club record for the longest unbeaten start of 22 appearances.

The 20-time Germany international leaves London after 151 games for the Gunners, including two FA Cup medals, but having fallen out of favour in the last year. He arrives in Gelsenkirchen with Schalke bottom of the table and having the Bundesliga’s leakiest defence.

Mustafi also joins former Arsenal teammate Sead Kolasinac, who made the same move on loan earlier in the January window.

Defender Ozan Kabak (c.) leaves Schalke after two years and 42 appearances for the club. - gettyimages

The move provides experienced cover in the centre of defence following Kabak’s loan move to Liverpool until the end of the season. The 20-year-old Turkey international has made 14 Bundesliga appearances this campaign and 55 over the course of his career with Schalke and VfB Stuttgart, scoring six goals.