Admin l Friday, December 30, 2022
JAPAN – Japanese winger Soichiro Kozuki has been promoted from Schalke’s reserve side to the first team on a professional contract until 2025, the Bundesliga bottom club said on Friday.
Schalke said that depending on the matches played the contract will automatically renew for another year until 2026.
Kozuki, 22, scored eight goals in 14 games and set up five others in the first part of the season for Schalke’s fourth-tier reserves. He also impressed and scored in three first team test matches during the current winter break.
“Soichiro is a good tackler, physical and strong too. He’s got bags of talent but is still at the start of his career,” coach Thomas Reis said.
“Even if there have been comparisons with some brilliant Japanese stars, we want to keep the pressure off him and take things slowly to ensure we have a lot of success together in the future.”
Kozuki said: “I feel right at home here at Schalke and am very grateful for the opportunity that the club has afforded me. I will continue to work hard on my development in order to help the team stay in the Bundesliga.”
Promoted Schalke are last, five points from safety, and have scored only 13 goals in 15 season games. They restart on January 21 at Europa League champions Eintracht Frankfurt.