Džeko Signs for Schalke with €900,000 Salary and a Humorous Family Comment
The Bosnian veteran, at 40, begins what is likely the final season of his career, with his wife and children telling him they don't want him at home.
The Bosnian veteran, at 40, begins what is likely the final season of his career, with his wife and children telling him they don't want him at home.
Legendary Bosnian striker Edin Džeko (40) was officially unveiled as Schalke 04's new signing on Monday, August 4, 2026, as the club returns to the German Bundesliga. Džeko signed a new one-year contract with the Gelsenkirchen-based club.
The presentation was marked by a humorous remark in which Džeko explained his motivation to continue his career. "My wife and kids told me I have to play; they don't want me at home," the striker joked, as reported by Klix.ba, hinting at what he himself called likely his final season in professional football.
Although negotiations were demanding, and Džeko's management team sought a salary exceeding one million euros, Schalke, as a newly promoted side, could not meet those financial demands. According to Sport BILD, as reported by N1 BiH, the pivotal moment came when the club's sporting director, Frank Baumann (50), personally traveled to Dubrovnik to meet with Džeko, without the presence of his managers.
Džeko showed understanding for the club's situation and agreed to a performance-based contract. His fixed annual salary is around €900,000, but through various bonuses, he can earn an additional €450,000. For every Schalke victory in which he appears, he will receive nearly €20,000, and for a draw, roughly a third of that amount. The contract also includes a €100,000 bonus if the club secures its league status, as well as higher premiums in the event of a finish between 5th and 12th place.
Džeko has taken his move to Schalke very seriously on a personal level as well. His wife Amra and their four children will relocate from Milan to the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The children will attend an international school near Düsseldorf, the same one that the children of former Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso once attended.
Within the club, Džeko already enjoys great respect. In the second half of last season, he scored six goals and made a significant contribution to Schalke's promotion to the Bundesliga, particularly standing out as a leader in the dressing room.
In international football news, Getafe officially confirmed the signing of Georgian center-back Saba Sazonov (24) on the same day, August 4, 2026. As reported by Marca, the player joined the Madrid club as a free agent after leaving Torino at the end of last season.
Sazonov signed a contract with Getafe until June 2027. In his career, he has also played for Italian club Empoli, Dynamo Moscow, and came through the youth ranks at Zenit St. Petersburg. Interestingly, Marca notes that Sazonov was close to signing for the Madrid club last summer, but the transfer fell through due to an administrative error by Torino when sending the documentation. Now, he will finally play under coach José Bordalás.
