Edin Dzeko has extended his Schalke contract by one year after helping the club return to the Bundesliga.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina captain, who is 40, joined Schalke on a free transfer in January 2026 after leaving Italian club Fiorentina. He scored six goals in 11 Bundesliga 2 appearances as Schalke secured promotion back to Germany’s top flight.
Dzeko said the achievement ranked among the most significant moments of his career and that he remained determined to contribute at the highest level.
“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,” said Dzeko.
The new agreement means the experienced forward will continue with Schalke as they prepare for their return to the Bundesliga. Dzeko also captained Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2026 World Cup.
He previously played in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg, making his last appearance in the competition during the 2010-11 season. At the end of that campaign, he left Wolfsburg for Manchester City in a transfer worth £27m.
Dzeko went on to become a key figure for Manchester City, but his latest spell in Germany began when he moved to Schalke from Fiorentina at the start of 2026. His goals helped the club achieve promotion and earn another opportunity to compete among Germany’s leading teams.
Schalke director of football Youri Mulder said the club’s discussions with Dzeko had convinced them that the striker still had the desire to make an impact.
“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.”
Dzeko’s continued presence will add experience to Schalke’s squad, although he will have to defy Bundesliga history if he is to become the oldest player to appear in a competitive match in the league.
That record belongs to former Schalke defender Klaus Fichtel, who played in Germany’s top division at the age of 43 years and 184 days.
The Bundesliga’s oldest goalscorer is former Werder Bremen forward Claudio Pizarro. He was 40 years and 227 days old when he scored against Borussia Dortmund.
Dzeko will now begin his latest Bundesliga campaign more than a decade after his previous one, with Schalke aiming to establish themselves again in the top flight following promotion.
