Dusseldorf has suffered a painful loss as Satoshi Tanaka, the Japanese national player, transfers to Schalke 04. The move became possible after Dusseldorf was relegated to the 2. Bundesliga. Tanaka, who joined Dusseldorf from Sanfrecce Hiroshima during the second half of last season, proved to be a valuable player in the defensive midfield. The transfer to Schalke 04 is seen as a bargain, with a transfer fee of only one million euros. Schalke 04, returning to the Bundesliga, has offered Tanaka a contract until 2030. Schalke's sports director, Youri Mulder, praised Tanaka's attributes, emphasizing that he fits well into the team's playing style. Despite his impressive performances, Tanaka could not prevent Dusseldorf's relegation. However, he was not nominated for the upcoming World Cup.