Ron-Torben Hoffmann has told Bild that he will use his experience at Sunderland to help Schalke in their pursuit of securing promotion to the Bundesliga.
The goalkeeper has signed a three-year deal after joining the German club on a free transfer this summer.
Prior to that, he had spells at second division German side, Eintracht Braunschweig and Bayern Munich. Hoffmann spent seven years with the Bundesliga giants before leaving them as a free agent in 2022.
In his final year at the Bavarian club, the 25-year-old was sent out on loan to Sunderland during the 2021/22 season.
The Black Cats were then in League One, and the stopper kept eight clean sheets and conceded 32 goals from 24 games. Sunderland were successful in securing promotion to the Championship in 2022.
“Of course, the performance principle also applies to me. But I’m experienced, have played over 50 second division games and was also promoted with Sunderland,” he said.
Bild were intrigued by the promotion part and asked whether it’ll help Schalke return to the German top flight.
Responding to that, Hoffmann explained: “Of course that is the goal in the long term. That’s why I signed for three years. Now everyone has to find their way after the upheaval. But promotion by 2027 is a very realistic goal.”
