1. FC Nürnberg have signed striker Manuel Schäffler from relegated side SV Wehen Wiesbaden.
The 31-year-old scored 19 goals for Wiesbaden in the 2. Bundesliga last season, although they were not enough to keep the club up or to beat Fabian Klos (21 goals) to the top scorer crown.
He thrived at the BRTIA-Arena, finishing on 80 goals in 151 appearances in all competitions over a four-year spell, having not made as much of an impact with previous clubs 1860 Munich, MSV Duisburg, Ingolstadt and Holstein Kiel.
Despite his age, Der Club willl be hoping that Schäffler, who had also been linked with Hamburg, will continue last season’s form and provide them with the lethal goalscorer that they were desperately lacking last year.
“We were looking for a robust attacker with a strong game,” says sports manager Dieter Hecking, who said that Schäffler “has impressively proven that he has exactly these qualities.”
“I am grateful that such a big traditional club like 1. FC Nürnberg is giving me the opportunity to play here,” says Schäffler, who is happy to be nearer to his family in Bavaria. “I’m really looking forward to it and I’m dying to really getting started,” he continued.
Der Club have not announced how long a contract he has signed. He will wear the number 9 shirt, as he did at Wiesbaden, who have now lost 19 players since their relegation to the 3. Liga.
Schäffler will not be reunited with Törles Knöll, who was on loan at Wiesbaden last season from Nürnberg, as he has signed for Croatian side Slaven Belupo. He is the fourth new arrival at the Max-Morlock-Stadion, with Tom Krauß, Christian Früchtl and Sarpreet Singh all joining on loan, with the latter pair both coming from Bayern Munich.
Header image source: 1. FC Nürnberg
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