Ailton quits Bundesliga for Besiktas
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Article summary
Besiktas JK have signed FC Schalke 04's Brazilian striker Ailton for €3.5m to fill the void left by John Carew's sale.
Article body
Three-year deal
The 32-year-old Brazilian has put pen to paper on a three-year contract, bringing to an end a successful seven-year stay in the German Bundesliga. Ailton moved to Werder Bremen in 1998 and went on to score 89 goals in 169 league appearances. Last summer, he switched to Schalke and averaged a goal every other game, with 14 in 28 starts, as the Gelsenkirchen club finished second to qualify for the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League.
Nearing end
"This was my last big move," said Ailton, who has also played for Guarani FC and Santa Cruz FC in his homeland. "After two more years everything will finish for me and I will return to Brazil. Schalke have also received some cash in exchange for my services which is good."
European ambition
Besiktas, who sold Norway striker Carew to Lyon last month for €7.7m, will enter the UEFA Cup in next month's second qualifying round after finishing fourth in the 2004/05 Superleague. They will learn their opponents when the draw is held at 14.00CET on 29 July at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
