New FC Schalke 04 star Moritz Jenz is thrilled Celtic agreed to release the centre-back from his loan transfer from FC Lorient. He has now moved to Germany until the end of the term.
The 23-year-old has moved to the Veltins Arena to help Thomas Reis pull Die Konigsblauen clear of the relegation zone. Jenz joins Schalke with the North Rhine-Westphalia club sat at the bottom of the Bundesliga table. They have just nine points from their 17 fixtures so far.
No team in Germany’s top-flight has conceded more goals than Schalke so far this season, either. They have allowed 41 goals to their 14 scored for two wins, three draws and seven defeats. So, Jenz joins Schalke five points behind Hertha Berlin in the other relegation spot.
Celtic agreed to let Jenz leave Parkhead early as the German fell out of favour under Ange Postecoglou. He only featured 11 times in the Premiership and started 10 of those outings. The Berlin-born ace also did not feature again after November 12 at home to Ross County.
Lorient had agreed to loan Jenz to Celtic for the season with the option to make his move a permanent transfer last July. Yet he failed to oust Cameron Carter-Vickers, fell behind Carl Starfelt in the pecking order and was then replaced in January by Yuki Kobayashi’s transfer.
Moritz Jenz jumped at the chance to leave Celtic for a loan transfer with Schalke
Reports by Kicker, which quote Jenz, note Schalke will also have an option to buy Jenz at the end of his loan transfer from Lorient after Celtic agreed to terminate their terms early. But the clause is dependent on Die Konigsblauen avoiding relegation from the Bundesliga.
Veltins Arena sporting director Peter Knabel believes his side have now added a ‘fast and playful’ defender. He has also revealed Schalke sought a deal with Lorient last summer as they have tracked him for a ‘long time’. While Reis appreciates Jenz for his ‘safe passing’.
Jenz, for his part, is thrilled to have sealed a transfer to Schalke after cutting short his stay at Celtic. But the Lorient loanee does not shy from the fact they are in a relegation battle.
“I was really happy when I heard that Schalke were interested in me,” he says. “Of course, I know the table and know that it will be a difficult road.
“Nevertheless, I would like to tackle the task together with the other teammates and complete it as successfully as possible.”
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