Bundesliga promotion side Schalke 04 is parting ways with a departure candidate from its roster, at least temporarily.

As the Royal Blues announced, Martin Wasinski is joining Dutch second-division side Almere City on loan.

The 22-year-old right-back, who remains contracted to Schalke until 2028, will play there initially until the end of the current season. After that, his new club holds a purchase option, as Schalke confirmed.

Schalke sporting director Youri Mulder stated that this decision is good for both sides and significantly increases Martin's opportunities for playing time. He wished Martin all the best at Almere both professionally and personally, and thanked him for his efforts at Schalke.

Wasinski explained that he sees Almere City as a good club with a nice mix of experienced and young, talented players. He described it as a great opportunity to become part of the squad, contribute to the club's success, and win as many matches as possible together. He expressed his excitement about making a fresh start there and continuing his development.

Phased out at Schalke 04

Almere City's technical director Chiel Dekker emphasized that they were searching for a right-back who could keep up with the talented players already in their squad. He noted that for his relatively young age, Martin already possesses considerable experience across various competitions and fits their playing style.

Wasinski transferred to Schalke 04 in 2024 from Royal Charleroi in his native Belgium but failed to break through at the club. Recently, the young player only featured for the U23 side and no longer factored into head coach Miron Muslic's plans.

In the previous season, he was loaned to Belgian second-division side RFC Liège. Before that, he also spent half a year in the youth department of KRC Genk.