Schalke 04 signs Junior Adamu for €800K from Freiburg

FC Schalke 04 have completed the signing of Austrian striker Junior Adamu from SC Freiburg for a base fee of €800,000, plus performance-related add-ons. The deal is aimed at helping the newly promoted Bundesliga club survive the 2026/27 season. Schalke are paying about one quarter of Adamu’s estimated market valuation (roughly €3 million). Adamu, 25, has struggled to consistently produce goals since joining Freiburg in June 2023. In 49 appearances, he scored just three times. Most recently, he spent a loan spell at Celtic (Feb 2, 2026 to June 30, 2026), where he found it difficult to secure regular playing time. Schalke 04 signs Junior Adamu after a medical clearance on June 11, 2026. At 1.83 meters, Adamu is expected to add physical presence for aerial duels and hold-up play. For Schalke, the structure is “low risk, upside” — if Adamu delivers in Gelsenkirchen, total costs can rise through bonuses; if not, Schalke avoid a large fixed outlay. Schalke 04 signs Junior Adamu on a bargain-type price, with expectations that even 5–6 Bundesliga goals could be meaningful for avoiding relegation.