Brentford have completed the signing of attacker Kevin Schade from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg, subject to international clearance.
Schade initially joins Brentford on loan until the end of the season. We expect to make the deal permanent for a club-record undisclosed fee in the summer, with Schade set to sign a five-year contract.
Schade made his first-team debut in August 2021 and went on to make a further 23 appearances in all competitions during his breakout season as Freiburg finished sixth in the German top flight.
He netted four times last term, including an 84th-minute winner against Bayer Leverkusen.
The forward has made 12 appearances during the 2022/23 season, scoring two goals, one of which came during Freiburg’s 4-0 victory over Ligue 1 side Nantes in the Europa League.
Schade possesses blistering pace. He registered the seventh-fastest speed (22.6 mph) in Bundesliga history in the first half of Freiburg’s 3-1 win at home to Greuther Furth in October 2021.
Born to a German mother and Nigerian father, Schade is eligible to represent both Germany and Nigeria in international competition. To date, he has made five appearances for Germany’s under-21 side and scored four goals.
Thomas Frank, Brentford head coach, said: “I think Kevin is a typical Brentford signing. He is a young, promising talent that we see a big potential in. We have been following him for a while and we think he will suit our style of play.
“He can play anywhere across our front three positions. He could play for us on either wing or as the central striker. He has great pace and is very promising in the way he runs behind defences.
“He is very good aerially, in both boxes, and can develop even more to be a real threat as an offensive option with his head.
“We like the way he presses when the team do not have the ball. He is willing to work very hard for his team. We see him as a player that could have a big potential to be a fine goal scorer and it is great to have him at Brentford. Our coaching staff are looking forward to working with him.”
Phil Giles added: “Kevin is a player we wanted to sign last summer, but unfortunately a combination of factors, including that he was out injured in September, made that impossible.
“We are therefore pleased to have finally secured the transfer early during this transfer window. He initially joins on a loan deal, but we have pre-agreed with Freiburg and Kevin a set of circumstances which will see him join permanently in the summer.
“I am confident that Kevin will be with us in the long term and look forward to working with him for the next five-and-a-half years.”