Mainz have signed midfielder Jose Rodriguez from Turkish outfit Galatasaray, the Bundesliga club confirmed in an official statement on Wednesday.
After one year with the Turkish Cup winners, the 21-year-old midfielder agreed to switch to Mainz. Rodriguez put pen to paper on a four-year deal to stay with the “Nuellfuenfer” until June 2020.
“Jose Rodriguez has received an excellent soccer education at Real Madrid. He has, as a central midfielder, considerable technical as well as strategic skills, which he has already proved as the skipper of Spain’s Under-21 national team. He is highly gifted and can still evolve as a player,” Mainz’ sporting director Rouven Schroeder told the club’s official homepage.
Mainz’ new arrival started his senior career at Real Madrid’s second team in 2012. From 2014 until 2015 Rodriguez played on loan at Deportivo La Cornuna before he switched to Galatasaray in the summer 2015 to make 14 outings ever since.
“I am looking forward to the Bundesliga, which I have followed intensely. In the past year I have watched some matches of Mainz. After very good talks with those responsible it was clear to me that I want to take my next step here. I am very ambitious and want to become a better player at Mainz,” Rodriguez said.
Mainz completed the Bundesliga campaign 2015-2016 on the 6th place of the standings to secure a berth in the UEFA Europa League. The upcoming Bundesliga season kicks off on August 26 as defending champions Bayern Munich take on Werder Bremen.