Schalke have given Greece striker Angelos Charisteas a contract until the end of the season after taking him on trial last week.
The former Werder Bremen, Nurnberg and Bayer Leverkusen striker, who scored the winning goal for his nation in the Euro 2004 Final, was a free agent after being released by Arles in November and Schalke manager Felix Magath believes his Bundesliga experience could come in useful.
"The 1-0 defeat to Hoffenheim showed once again how much we need a striker who is good in the air," said Magath to Kicker magazine.
Charisteas won a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double with Werder Bremen in 2004 before winning the European Championships with his national team in Portugal.
He has made a total of 122 appearances in the Bundesliga, scoring 26 goals.
His arrival could pave the way for Jefferson Farfan to leave amid reports of a bid from league rivals Wolfsburg for the Peruvian forward.
"It is possible," admitted Magath to Sky television. "We will just have to wait and see."
