Edin Džeko Signs New Contract at 40
The Bosnia and Herzegovina captain has extended his stay with the German giants for another year and will chase Bundesliga records in his 23rd professional season.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina captain has extended his stay with the German giants for another year and will chase Bundesliga records in his 23rd professional season.
Edin Džeko, captain of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team, has no intention of slowing down at the age of 40. On Monday, August 3, 2026, he signed a new one-year contract with Schalke from Gelsenkirchen, confirming that he will continue to play at the highest level of German football in the upcoming season.
The news delighted the club's fans, who have grown fond of him in just a few months since his arrival. Džeko joined the team in January 2026 as a free agent after leaving Fiorentina and immediately became one of the key players in the push for promotion to the top flight.
In 11 appearances in the 2. Bundesliga, the experienced striker scored six goals. The number of assists varies depending on the source, with HRT Sport and Prigorski reporting six assists, while N1 BiH records three. Regardless of the statistics, his contribution was invaluable, and Schalke secured their return to the Bundesliga as champions of the second division in the 2025/2026 season after three years in the lower tier.
Schalke's sporting director, Youri Mulder, did not hide his satisfaction that Džeko is staying. "Edin brought something special to Schalke 04 during his first four and a half months at the club. He was a key player and a fan favorite, and his personality meant he was always an example both on and off the pitch. Therefore, we believe he can help us in the Bundesliga as well," Mulder told HRT Sport.
Džeko, who will continue to wear the number 10 shirt, did not hide his emotions after signing the contract. "Since I arrived at Schalke in the winter, I have been part of a fantastic team and experienced incredible support from the fans. Promotion to the Bundesliga is one of the highlights of my career. It was incredible. Football has made me happy and driven me throughout my life. I am still hungry and want to help our team in the Bundesliga as well," the striker said.
This will be his fifth season in the Bundesliga, where he returns for the first time since the 2010/2011 season when he wore the Wolfsburg shirt. For the "Wolves," he scored 66 goals in four seasons and won the league title in 2009, when he was also named the league's best player. From Wolfsburg, he moved to Manchester City in 2011 for approximately £27 million, and later played for Roma, Inter, and Fiorentina. This will be his 23rd professional season.
The new contract opens up the possibility for Džeko to challenge some of the Bundesliga's age records. The record for the oldest player in league history is held by former Schalke defender Klaus Fichtel, who played an official match at 43 years and 184 days. The oldest goalscorer remains Claudio Pizarro, who scored for Werder Bremen against Borussia Dortmund at the age of 40 years and 227 days. Džeko could threaten Pizarro's record during the new season.
Džeko will join the preparations on Tuesday, August 4, after a break from representing Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The contract runs until the summer of 2027, meaning he will be running out onto Bundesliga pitches at the age of 41.
