Premier League title winner Edin Dzeko signs for second tier club aged 39

German club Schalke have confirmed the signing of Edin Dzeko to aid their promotion push back to the Bundesliga.

Dzeko, who turns 40 in March, only moved to Serie A outfit Fiorentina last summer.

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However, Dzeko, who only started twice in the league for the Viola this season, has since returned to Germany as Schalke look to return to the Bundesliga.

“FC Schalke 04 have strengthened their attacking options by signing internationally experienced striker Edin Dzeko for the remaining 16 matches of the 2025/26 season,” a statement read on the official Schalke site.

“Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most capped player most recently featured for Fiorentina in Serie A and is one of the most prolific goalscorers of his generation. The 39-year-old will wear the number 10 shirt at Schalke.”

Dzeko ‘looking forward’ to his first home match

On his shock move to Schalke, Dzeko said: “From the moment there was interest, I took a very close look at Schalke and watched several matches.

“My discussions with the club, with head coach Miron Muslic and, of course, with Nikola Katic among others, were very positive.

“It’s impressive to see how the team has developed this season after some difficult years. Now I want to give everything so that we can be successful together in the second half of the campaign.

“I’m really looking forward to my first home match at a sold-out VELTINS-Arena.”

The experienced striker spent three-and-a-half years with Bundesliga side Wolfsburg before signing for Manchester City in January 2011.

During his time with City, Dzeko won the Premier League twice, the FA Cup once and the League Cup once before departing for Serie A giants Roma on loan in 2015, with his switch to Italy made permanent in 2016.

Dzeko then went on to play for Inter, Fenerbahce and Fiorentina before moving to Schalke this week.

Despite his struggles with Fiorentina he made history of becoming the Conference League’s oldest ever goalscorer at 39 years and 220 days old when he scored against Rapid Vienna in December.

Schalke’s promotion push on track

The German giants currently top the 2.Bundesliga after 18 matches as they seek to return to Germany’s top tier and end a three-year spell away.

Currently four points clear of Elversberg and Darmstadt in second and third, respectively, head coach Muslic will hope to mastermind Schalke’s promotion as champions.

Yet despite sitting top of the 2.Bundesliga, Schalke have scored a paltry 22 league goals this season.

Kenan Karaman is their top scorer with six goals to his name, while only five players have scored more than once for the Royal Blues.

Dzeko is expected to make his Schalke debut when they host another fallen giant, Kaiserslautern, on Sunday.