Exploring the Salary, Transfer Value, and Prospects of the Ghanaian Kingsley Schindler

After an 11-season hiatus, Samsunspor has made a return to the Turkish Super Lig. In the summer transfer window, the club strengthened its squad with experienced Ghanaian winger Kingsley Schindler. 

His role includes deepening and strengthening the team’s play in the center and on the flanks, with the aim of helping the team establish itself in the elite division. However, at present, the Turkish club is only three points clear of the relegation zone, and Schindler himself has been absent from the starting lineup for an extended period.

What is Kingsley Schindler’s Salary at Samsunspor?

The Ghanaian winger joined the Turkish team in the summer of 2023, with the agreement set to run until June 30, 2025, with an option for an additional year. Over two years in Turkey, the Ghanaian footballer will earn €2,660,000, excluding bonuses. For the 2023/2024 season, Schindler will receive €1,330,000, equivalent to €25,577 per week.

Team Salary Overview: Schindler – Among the Top 3 Highest-Paid Players in the Team

In the 2023/2024 season, Samsunspor’s total expenditure on salaries amounts to €18,070,000 per year, or €347,500 per week. The highest-paid player in the team is striker Landry Dimata, receiving €1,700,000 annually, or €32,692 per week. Kingsley Schindler ranks third in the salary rating, sharing the position with French midfielder Flavien Tait. Additionally, the Ghanaian winger is the second-highest-paid African player in the Turkish team, surpassed only by Cameroonian Olivier Ntcham.

Career Salary Comparison: Schindler’s Earnings Evolution

Schindler’s salary first saw a significant increase after his debut in the third German league with Holstein Kiel. Before signing with the team, he spent three seasons in the Regionalliga, accumulating 32 points in goals and assists and becoming the captain of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim II. Despite a season-ending injury in his debut season, the French club Bordeaux re-signed him, nearly doubling his earnings.

During his loan spells in English clubs, coinciding with a dip in performance and a series of injuries, Josh Maja’s earnings remained relatively stable, ranging from €770,000 to €784,000. This salary remained consistent even in Maja’s most productive season in France, which happened to be his last. Maja’s earnings nearly doubled after signing with West Bromwich Albion F.C. Currently, Maja has the highest salary of his career.

Market Value: Significant Changes After Debuting in the Second Bundesliga

In two years with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim II, Schindler’s transfer value as the team captain increased by 2.5 times and held at that level until his move to Holstein Kiel. In his debut season in the third division, the Ghanaian winger’s transfer value almost quintupled. In the 2016/2017 season, he set a personal record with 13 goals and 9 assists, helping his team finish second and earn promotion. 

In the second strongest division in Germany, Schindler’s value continued to rise, despite scoring fewer goals in the following two seasons. Despite a reduction in playing time, his transfer value increased fivefold, reaching its peak.

However, his debut in the first Bundesliga was unsuccessful. In his first season with 1. FC Köln, Schindler played in only 15 matches, providing three assists. Due to this, his transfer value decreased by almost half. A loan to Hannover 96 did not help, as he received less playing time, and the value decreased by another half. After returning to Köln, his transfer value began to rise again. 

By the 2022/2023 season, Schindler finally secured a place in the starting lineup of the German team, contributing six assists and scoring twice. His goal in the Conference League qualification secured the club a spot in the group stage of the European competition. By that time, his market value had increased by €200,000 and remained at around €1 million for almost a year. However, the move to the Turkish league and the inconsistent playing time led to another decrease in Schindler’s transfer value. Currently, Transfermarkt estimates Kingsley Schindler’s value at €800,000.

Achievements with the National Team

Kingsley Schindler made his debut for the senior Ghanaian national team in 2023 in a qualifying match for the African Cup of Nations against Angola. Despite receiving a call-up for the tournament, the winger did not feature in any of the games. In total, Schindler has played in 4 matches for the national team without registering any goal contributions.

Football and Financial Prospects

In the 2023/2024 season, Kingsley Schindler started as a key player for the Turkish team, featuring in 14 rounds. However, in early December, the Ghanaian stopped making it into the starting lineup due to an injury and a call-up to the national team for the African Cup of Nations. Returning to the starting XI for Samsunspor could not only help Schindler automatically extend his contract with the club but also set the stage for a new contract with improved terms in the following season.