Sydney FC coach Steve Corica and new signing Alexander Baumjohann agree the German midfielder is a perfect fit for the Sky Blues front-four after he moved across town on a two-year deal.
Baumjohann was released by Western Sydney Wanderers at the end of the last A-League season after making 20 appearances and scoring three goals.
While Australian players have played for both Sydney clubs, 32-year-old Baumjohann is the first major import to have signed for both.
He’s the defending champions’ second major offseason signing after they picked up New Zealand forward Kosta Barbarouses from Melbourne Victory.
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With marquee Siem de Jong and fellow import Reza Ghoochannejhad reaching the end of their loan deals and captain Alex Brosque retiring, Sydney will field a revamped forward line.
“With the strike force we have with Kosta coming into the side, Trent Buhagiar back [from an ACL injury] … Adam Le Fondre and Luke Ivanovic,” Corica said.
“We’ve got a lot of pace up front and we need very good 10s behind them supplying ball and definitely Alex fits into that category.”
Baumjohann enjoyed championship and German Cup success at football giants Bayern Munich and won the German Super Cup during his time with Schalke.
“I’ve played for big clubs before where it was all just all about winning trophies and this is also what I want and this is why I chose this club,” Baumjohann said.
Sydney now have just one import spot to fill.
Signing a central defender would appear to be their next major priority, with Jacob Tratt and Aaron Calver joining rival A-League clubs, Dutchman Jop van der Linden released and Ben Warland likely to miss most of next season with an ACL injury.
Defensive midfielder Josh Brillante is now a free agent and expected to sign with another club.
Sydney FC return to training in the next few days. They play French glamour club Paris Saint-Germain in China on July 30 before an FFA Cup round of 32 home encounter against Robbie Fowler’s Brisbane Roar.