Schalke 04 have announced that Simon Terodde has signed a split three-year contract extension that will see him stay in Gelsenkirchen as the Royal Blues return to the 2. Bundesliga.
The contract will be split into three parts, which will see the Schalke management team decide at the end of every season whether to offer Terodde the one-year renewal. Despite the announcement that Terodde would leave Die Königsblauen at the end of this season when his contract expires, the 35-year-old striker would have a change of heart.
Speaking upon his renewal, Terodde say: “I was absolutely certain that we would manage to stay up in the Bundesliga together. That’s why it was clear to me a few weeks ago that my path would end at Schalke. That’s why I informed those responsible at the time of my decision. The descent then changed everything for me.”
Schalke’s new sporting director André Hechelmann would remark: “When the door opened for Simon to stay, Peter Knäbel, René Grotus and I immediately tried to get him to extend his time at Schalke,” before adding: “We had very good discussions with our head coach and are very happy that we will continue together. Simon not only gives the team an incredible amount in terms of sport but also always leads the way off the field.”
Schalke manager Thomas Reis would then comment on the love Terodde has for Schalke: “After the last game of the season, everyone saw how much FC Schalke 04 means to Simon and how emotional the relegation and the supposed farewell was for him.”
Reis would then remark on what Terodde can offer the Schalke side: “He is an incredibly experienced player who brings everything with him – including the huge ambition to want to say goodbye to this club and the fans with a different result. I’m looking forward to starting the new season with Simon.”
Terodde would then explain: “Especially in the past few weeks I’ve realized again how much the club means to me and that I just don’t want to close my chapter here. The support from the fans over the past few months has been unique, and the moments in Leipzig have been incredibly emotional for me,” before ending with: “We’ve made the climb before, now we’re attacking again. I’m very happy that those responsible approached me again and gave me a perspective beyond the coming season.”
Terodde has struggled to find his form in the Bundesliga with just five goals this season. However, he is the 2. Bundelsiga’s all-time top goalscorer and a return to the division could be lucrative for both Terodde and Schalke.
GGFN | Will Shopland
