Schalke faces talent drain as top player joins Bayer Leverkusen
Saying Goodbye to Talent: Osman Turay Leaves Schalke 04 for Leverkusen
It's a bittersweet goodbye for Schalke 04 as they bid farewell to one of their youngest and brightest talents, Osman Turay. This 17-year-old defender is making a move to Bayer 04 Leverkusen's U19 team next season, having agreed to join on a free transfer.
According to Leverkusen's sporting director, Simon Rolfes, "Osmans' sporting ambitions align beautifully with our objectives. With him, we aim to rekindle our position in youth football, making Bayer 04 one of the top addresses in German football at this level once again."
Turay previously played for 1. FC Köln before joining Schalke 04 in the summer of 2022. Despite being a 2008-born player, Schalke opted to promote him to the U19s and he quickly became a regular starter under coach Norbert Elgert (23 appearances, 3 assists).
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Turay's departure from Schalke follows another top player from the 2008 year group, Arian Güzel, who has also chosen to leave Gelsenkirchen and join 1. FC Köln.
Interestingly, Osman Turay's Emergence as a Promising Player
Long recognized as a promising talent by the DFB, Turay has been a regular in the German youth national teams. At the U17 European Championship last month, he served as one of the team captains, even though Germany did not make it to the knockout round due to a 0-3 loss to France, a 4-0 victory over Albania, and a 1-2 loss to Portugal. Turay managed to contribute two assists despite the setbacks.
Leverkusen's football director, Kim Falkenberg, expressed delight at securing Turay, stating, "We're thrilled that Osman Turay, one of the most promising players in his age group in the youth sector, has chosen to continue his career at Bayer 04 Leverkusen."
In addition to Turay, this summer also sees another top player from the 2008 year group leaving Schalke. Arian Güzel, the U17 captain, has opted to continue elsewhere.
[1] Source: Schalke 04 Official Website[2] Source: Bayer 04 Leverkusen Official Website[3] Source: SportBild
The talented defender, Osman Turay, is transitioning from Schalke 04 to Leverkusen's U19 team, demonstrating his ambition to pursue sports excellence in European leagues. Leverkusen's football director, Kim Falkenberg, acknowledges Turay as one of the most promising players in his age group in the youth sector, hinting at his potential contributions to the team's future in youth football.
