Edin Dzeko has agreed to extend his stay at Schalke, signing a new one-year contract that will keep the veteran striker at the German club as they prepare for a return to the Bundesliga.
The 40-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina captain arrived at Schalke on a free transfer in January 2026 following his departure from Fiorentina in Italy. His impact was immediate and significant, as he played a central role in guiding the club back to the Bundesliga after a spell in the second division.
During his time in Bundesliga 2, Dzeko found the net six times across 11 appearances, numbers that underline his continued sharpness in front of goal despite his advancing years. His form for Schalke came in the same period he led Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2026 World Cup as captain, further showcasing his enduring quality at the highest level of the sport.
Explaining his decision to commit to another season with the club, Dzeko reflected on what the promotion campaign meant to him personally. "Winning promotion to the Bundesliga ranks among the highlights of my career. It was unbelievable. Football has made me happy and driven me throughout my life. I am still hungry, and I want to help our team in the Bundesliga too," he said.
Schalke's director of football, Youri Mulder, expressed confidence that the striker still has plenty to offer at the top level of German football. "Our conversations over the past few weeks made it clear that Edin is still as hungry as ever. We therefore believe that he can help us in the Bundesliga too," Mulder said.
Dzeko's return to the German top flight comes some 15 years after he last featured in the Bundesliga, when he was a prolific forward for Wolfsburg during the 2010-11 season. That campaign ended with his high-profile move to Manchester City, a transfer worth £27m that launched the next chapter of a career that has taken him across several of Europe's top leagues.
Since leaving Wolfsburg, Dzeko has built a reputation as one of the most consistent goalscorers of his generation, representing clubs including Manchester City, Roma, Inter Milan and Fiorentina before his move to Schalke. His decision to extend his stay in Gelsenkirchen suggests he is far from finished, even as he approaches an age where few professional footballers remain active at the elite level.
Should Dzeko continue to feature regularly for Schalke next season, he will inevitably draw comparisons with some of the Bundesliga's most notable age-defying records. Former Schalke defender Klaus Fichtel currently holds the record as the oldest player to appear in a competitive Bundesliga match, having featured at 43 years and 184 days old. Meanwhile, Claudio Pizarro remains the league's oldest ever goalscorer, having found the net for Werder Bremen against Borussia Dortmund at 40 years and 227 days old.
With his new deal in place, Dzeko will have the opportunity to add to his own legacy in German football, more than a decade and a half after he first made his name in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg. Schalke will be hoping his experience and proven scoring instincts can help stabilize the club as they adjust to life back among Germany's elite.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.