Schalke give 18 year old five-year contract extension

Max Meyer was handed a five-year extension with the Bundesliga side as the club's general manager Horst Heldt said 'his development in the past few months has been almost breathtaking'.

Bundesliga side Schalke have given 18 year old rising star Max Meyer a five-year extension to keep the attacking midfielder with the club until 2018.

The Germany Under-19 talent, who reached the European Under-17 championships final with his country in 2012, has scored three goals in 10 Bundesliga games this season and is tipped as a future star.

He came on for the final 15 minutes of Schalke’s 3-0 win at home to Stuttgart on Saturday to go fifth in the league.

“It is excellent news for the club,” said Schalke general manager Horst Heldt.

“Many professionals in the game have predicted a great career in football for him.

“His development in the past few months has been almost breathtaking.”

Meyer joined the Schalke youth team from Duisburg in 2009 and in 2011/2012 won the German Under-19 championships with the side after beating Bayern Munich in the final.

The teenager is in the Schalke squad for the Champions League with the hosts needing to beat Swiss champions FC Basel in a fortnight to reach the last 16.