When Ron-Thorben Hoffmann moved to Schalke 04 from Eintracht Braunschweig on a free transfer in the summer, it was supposed to be the next step in the 25-year-old’s career. This should have been a move from a team fighting against relegation in the 2. Bundesliga to one fighting to get promoted from it.
Having emerged from Bayern Munich’s academy, Hoffmann has ties to Manuel Neuer and asked the former Schalke goalkeeper for advice on the move. Neuer recommended the move to him, Hoffmann was promised the starting role in goal for a massive club like Schalke and it seemed Hoffmann could finally start realizing his dream of playing in the Bundesliga. Because Schalke would finally act like the big club they are and challenge for promotion, right?
But Schalke is currently a complete mess, so things went awry immediately. The club quickly broke their promise, backup goalkeeper Justin Heekeren was preferred to Hoffmann and the team started the season with relegation form. There was a managerial change six games in, the new guy briefly threw Hoffmann in the deep end, Hoffmann conceded five goals in two games, Hoffmann was immediately dropped and Schalke would continue to mess around near the bottom of the 2. Bundesliga.
After the broken promises, instability and terrible performances, Hoffmann had enough and eventually sealed a move back to Eintracht Braunschweig on loan, as confirmed by the club’s official X account. The loan will become a permanent transfer if the club remains in the 2. Bundesliga, though their current position of 17th in the table does not make survival seem likely. How will Braunschweig receive the man who left them on a free transfer just 6 months ago? Will Hoffmann be able to find his form again? What a rollercoaster this whole saga has been.
Nor is the rollercoaster over. Just as things could not get more bizarre, Schalke announced that Hoffmann’s replacement would be former Liverpool FC goalkeeper Loris Karius, who signs a six month contract, via their own X account. Schalke is simply unbelievable.
