"Hwang Hee-chan, 35 seconds before the deadline!" Schalke's "love or gamble" bypassing medicals... Wolverhampton 'escape success' after direct call from manager

*This content was translated by AI.

Korea national team striker Hwang Hee-chan (30) dramatically donned the Schalke 04 jersey with just 35 seconds remaining in the transfer window. This marks his return to German football five years after Leipzig in 2021.

On the 2nd (Korean time), Hwang Hee-chan confirmed a loan deal with Schalke until June 30, 2027. Wearing number 7, the agreement includes an option for a permanent transfer worth 3 million euros (approximately 47 billion won), contingent on his performance.

For Hwang Hee-chan, now in his 30s, this move is seen as his final opportunity to prove he still has competitiveness in Europe's top leagues. During the 2023-2024 season with Wolverhampton, he recorded a career-high with 13 goals and 3 assists, but last season saw him on a downward trajectory due to frequent injuries and poor performance at the 2026 North American World Cup qualifiers.

This transfer gained momentum following a direct phone call from Schalke manager Miran Muslic. After Wolverhampton's relegation to England's Championship (second division), Hwang Hee-chan's future had been uncertain. Manager Muslic extended an offer, stating, "Our vertical and powerful style of play perfectly matches your strengths."

Hwang Hee-chan, who had closely watched Schalke's matches after their promotion back to the first division with a second-division title last season, responded, "I am ready to fight at Schalke."

However, the contract process was not smooth. Disagreements between Wolverhampton, which initially wanted only a permanent transfer, and Schalke, which pushed for a loan deal at the last minute, delayed the agreement, consuming significant time on paperwork. Ultimately, league approval came dramatically just 35 seconds before the 8th p.m. transfer deadline, at 7:59:25 p.m.

Due to the tight timeline, even the mandatory medical test was skipped. While Schalke took the risk and proceeded with the loan, they have yet to fully ascertain Hwang Hee-chan's exact physical condition.

Hwang Hee-chan's debut match for Schalke is expected to be against Bayern Munich on the 6th at 1:30 a.m., featuring Kim Min-jae. However, given his pre-season fitness issues and the consequences of skipping the medical test, it remains uncertain whether the upcoming weekend "Korean Derby" will take place. If he has lingering injuries, there is a high probability he will wait until fully recovered before making his appearance.

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*This content was translated by AI.