FC Schalke 04 kicks off Bundesliga preparation before 3,700 fans
On July 5 2026, newly promoted FC Schalke 04 held its first public training session for the upcoming Bundesliga season at the Berger Field in Gelsenkirchen. Around 3,700 supporters attended, surpassing the previous year’s attendance. Coach Miron Muslic welcomed the crowd, saying, “Wir freuen uns, dass es endlich wieder losgeht. Wir freuen uns über die Fans. Es fühlt sich wieder nach zu Hause an und nach Arbeit.” He described the campaign as an “XXL‑Herausforderung” that will demand more physically, technically and mentally.
The club introduced its newest signings, midfielder Junior Adamu from SC Freiburg and winger Satoshi Tanaka from Fortuna Düsseldorf, while also confirming squad adjustments: Tomas Kalas, Steve Noode, Martin Wasinski and Mauro Zalazar were moved to the U23 squad, and Felipe Sanchez and goalkeeper Luca Podlech were made available for transfer. The future of former promotion hero Edin Dzeko remains uncertain after his contract expired on 1 July; Muslic noted ongoing talks with the Bosnian striker. Captain Kenan Karaman expressed optimism, urging further signings and adding, “Es ist schön, all diese Menschen hier zu sehen. Es geht nur gemeinsam!”
Schalke’s schedule includes test matches against FC Gütersloh, FC Erzgebirge Aue and KSV Hessen, followed by a pre‑season camp in the Stubaital, Austria. Fan enthusiasm was evident throughout, with long queues for the subsequent autograph session, underscoring strong supporter backing as the club prepares for the top‑flight challenge.