FRANKFURT — Awash in cash, Wolfsburg broke its club transfer record by signing Germany midfielder Julian Draxler from Schalke on the final day of the European transfer window Monday.
Draxler signed a five-year deal estimated at 35 million euros ($39.25 million), which would make it the second biggest transfer inside the Bundesliga after Mario Goetze’s 37 million-euro ($41.5-million) move to Bayern from Dortmund two years ago.
Schalke director Horst Heldt gave no details but said it was the richest transfer in the club’s history.
In other deadline-day moves, Bayer Leverkusen signed Mexico striker Javier Hernandez to a three-year contract from Manchester United, which also sent Adnan Januzaj on loan to Borussia Dortmund.
German media estimate that Wolfsburg collected about 100 million euros ($112.15 million) for Kevin de Bruyne and Ivan Perisic, who joined Manchester City and Inter Milan, respectively.
Draxler, who was on Germany’s World Cup winning squad in Brazil last year, is expected to fill the gap left by de Bruyne’s departure.
Wolfsburg also confirmed the arrival of Brazil defender Dante from Bayern Munich. Dante signed a three-year deal.
At the same time, Wolfsburg released attacking midfielder Aaron Hunt, who signed a three-year contract with Hamburger SV.
Schalke took midfielder Pierre-Emile Hoejbjerg on loan from Bayern Munich until the end of the season
Elsewhere, Dortmund signed Januzaj on loan until the end of the season, while Bayer Leverkusen sent Australia striker Robbie Kruse to Stuttgart, also on loan.
Mainz took Colombian striker Jhon Cordoba on a season-long loan from Granada, with an option for a more permanent deal.
South Korea midfielder Koo Ja-cheol returned to Augsburg on a two-year a deal. Koo played for Augsburg on loan from Wolfsburg three years ago. He returned to Wolfsburg and was then sent to Mainz at the start of 2014.
