Schalke have announced they have completed a deal to make Nabil Bentaleb’s loan signing from Tottenham permanent in a deal worth a reported £16m.
Bentaleb, 21, who has put pen to paper on a four-year deal until the summer of 2021, joined the Bundesliga outfit on an initial season-long loan deal at the start of the campaign and has made a real impression at the club since then.
The Algeria international reportedly had a clause in his loan agreement that would see Schalke make his stay permanent after playing a certain amount of games and, after making 26 appearances in all competitions, the club appeared to have triggered it.
“When I came to Schalke in the summer, my aim was to play as much as possible and persuade the club to make the transfer permanent,” Bentaleb told the club’s official website. “Things have worked out brilliantly and I am thrilled.
“It’s great to have the feeling that you are trusted by the club: the coaching staff, my teammates, the higher-ups and everyone here have made it really easy to feel at home at S04. I am very happy to be part of this team.”
Despite being known for his ability to break up play, Bentaleb has shown a new side to his game since making the switch to Schalke. He has added goals and assists to his game, which is shown by the fact he has played a direct hand in more league goals than any teammate this season (8).
For more stats on Nabil Bentaleb, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
