Matthew Hoppe has moved on to Spain as his former club, Schalke, announced on Tuesday that the American striker completed a transfer to La Liga side Mallorca.
There were no details on the fee, but earlier reports stated that the 20-year-old was available at a price of 3.5 million dollars.
The Royal Blues, who were relegated last season from the Bundesliga, are in need of cash, which left them no choice but to sell Hoppe.
“The financial framework of the deal meant that we had to accept it in our current financial situation,” Schalke sports director Rouven Schroder said. “Matthew is a great kid but he would have had a tough time gaining the sort of playing time that he had envisioned for himself. We wish him all the best for his private and sporting future.”
Hoppe caught the attention of many last season when he bagged a hat-trick for the Royal Blues in a 4-0 win over Hoffenheim to help them snap at the time a 30-game winless streak. He also entered the history books as he became the first American to achieve the feat in Germany’s top-flight. In total, he scored six goals in 23 appearances.
On the international stage, Hoppe would play a vital role in the U.S. men’s national team winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer as he played in five games and score the winner in their quarterfinal game against Jamaica.
Mallorca is owned by Robert Sarver who also owns the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. Steve Nash and former U.S. men’s national team member Stuart Holden have minority stakes in the club that currently sits in sixth place in the La Liga standings.
