体坛英语新闻：Bayern's Badstuber joins Schalke on loan

BERLIN, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Bayern Munich defender Holger Badstuber will join league rivals Schalke on loan, both Bundesliga sides confirmed in an official statement on Tuesday.

Schalke are set to wrap up their second transfer in the winterbreak as Holger Badstuber will pen a six-month loan deal after he passes the obligatory medical check in the coming days.

"Holger deserves to play. He was often injured but is now in shape and needs more play time. That's why he asked us to allow him the loan deal to Schalke. We met his wish and hope that Holger gets plenty of minutes on the pitch," Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said.

The 27-year-old defender, who made only three competitive outings under head coach Carlo Ancelotti, plays since his youth for the German record champions where he scored one goal in 191 appearances. However, in the last two years Badstuber suffered a number of injury setbacks.

"I am grateful that Bayern have met my wish," Badstuber said. "I would like to gain some match practice that I need now, and I am looking forward to my time in Gelsenkirchen," he added.

The German international, who made 31 international caps, lifted five Bundesliga titles, four German Cups and clinched the UEFA Champions League in 2013 with Bayern Munich.

Schalke sit currently on the 11th place of the Bundesliga standings. They encounter bottom side Ingolstadt for the restart of the season on January 21.