Schalke sign midfielder Geis from Mainz
Schalke have signed midfielder Johannes Geis from league rivals Mainz, the Bundesliga club said on Tuesday.
Geis, 21, is now with the Germany team at the under-21 European Championships in the Czech Republic but has signed a four-year contract with Schalke to 2019.
The fee was not confirmed but is reported by Kicker magazine as 11 million euros ($A16.1 million).
The setpiece specialist Geis was one of the most highly sought players in the league this summer with Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid and various clubs in England interested in securing his signature.
"We are very happy that one of the most coveted young players has opted for our club," Schalke sport director Horst Held told the team homepage.
Geis made his professional debut for Greuther Fuerth in the second division before moving to Mainz at the start of the 2013-14 season.
He has played 75 Bundesliga games, scoring six goals.
"Schalke has fascinated me, the stadium, the fans - it is something special to play in the arena," Geis said. "I will roll up my sleeves and give everything.
"Conversations with Horst Heldt and (coach) Andre Breitenreiter were very convincing. Something new can happen at Schalke and I would like to play my part in that."
