Karius joined Newcastle United in September 2022 on a free transfer following his previous loan spells with Besiktas and Union Berlin from Liverpool. However, his time at the club proved to be unremarkable, as he made only two appearances during his stay at Tyneside. The German goalkeeper had been without a club since his contract with the Magpies ended at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, and his new short-term deal until the end of the campaign offers Karius a fresh opportunity to revitalize his career.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

At Schalke, Karius will compete for the starting position against 22-year-old Justin Heekeren. The German team aims to improve their results in the second half of the season, currently sitting in 13th place in Bundesliga 2.

DID YOU KNOW?

Karius’ decision to move to Schalke comes just months after his fiancée, Diletta Leotta, voiced her desire for him to leave Newcastle. Leotta, a well-known Italian sports presenter, lives in Milan, while Karius spent most of his time in northern England, which was affecting their family life. In an interview with Tuttosport, Leotta openly discussed the difficulties posed by their distance.

“Loris has people around him who support him,” she stated. “I hope he makes the best decision for his career. I live in Milan, so being close to there would be ideal for us.”

She continued: “Monza or any team in Italy would be great. I’d be pleased if he played in Italy and could be near his family. Newcastle is quite inconvenient due to the lack of direct flights, whether to Paris or Amsterdam.”

WHAT NEXT FOR KARIUS?

Karius’ move to Schalke marks a return to his home country, where he initially rose to prominence during his time with Mainz 05 before joining Liverpool. The club will hope that Karius can contribute to their efforts to climb the league table and ultimately secure promotion back to the Bundesliga. They are in action next against Braunschweig on Saturday.