German-Ghanaian defender Anton Donkor is set to remain with Schalke 04 after his proposed move to Greek club OFI Crete fell through, according to braunschweig.t-online.de.
The 28-year-old left-back had been expected to leave Gelsenkirchen this summer, but the transfer has failed to materialise. The collapse leaves Schalke 04 with an unresolved squad situation involving a player who is no longer considered central to the club’s sporting plans.
Donkor’s continued presence also creates a financial consideration for Schalke 04. He is understood to be one of the better-paid members of the squad, meaning the club would prefer to find a solution sooner rather than later.
The Royal Blues will now have to wait for renewed interest from elsewhere if they are to complete Donkor’s departure during the summer transfer window. His proposed move to OFI Crete had appeared to offer Schalke 04 an opportunity to reduce the size and cost of their squad, but that option is no longer available.
Donkor joined Schalke 04 on a free transfer in May 2024 and signed a contract running until June 2027. Despite having three years remaining on that agreement, his position within the club’s plans has changed, leaving Schalke 04 looking for another potential destination for him.
His career has included spells in Germany and England. Donkor first moved to Everton on loan in January 2017. After an injury-hit initial spell, he returned to the English club for a second loan period.
He subsequently returned to Germany and signed for Carl Zeiss Jena in 2019. A move to Waldhof Mannheim followed in 2020, before Donkor joined Eintracht Braunschweig in 2022.
His performances at Eintracht Braunschweig led to the opportunity to move to Schalke 04, where he arrived as a free agent in May 2024. However, the failure of the OFI Crete deal means he is now expected to remain with the club, despite no longer being regarded as an important part of its sporting project.
Schalke 04 will therefore need either to reintegrate Donkor into the squad or continue searching for a club willing to take him on. The immediate outcome is that the defender remains under contract in Gelsenkirchen, while the club’s attempt to move him on has been delayed.
According to Transfermarkt, Donkor’s current market value is 400,000 euros.
