Schalke will have to do without the services of German International Lewis Holtby next season after the midfielder announced he will not be renewing his contract with the Bundesliga club.
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The 22-year-old's contract expires at the end of the season and he will available on a free transfer in the summer.
This is a massive blow for the Gelsenkirchen outfit as Holtby has emerged as one of the many talented midfielders in Joachim Low's German national team set-up over the past year.
The Royal Blues were hoping Holtby would join Dutch hit-man Klaas Jan Huntelaar in signing a new deal. The 29-year-old striker recently agreed new terms keeping him at the club until 2015.
However, it appears that Holtby's future lies away from the Budesliga outfit.
Schalke Board member Horst Heldt told Sky Sports: "We had hoped that Lewis saw his future at Schalke beyond the end of the season.
"But, like Klaas Jan, he has made a personal decision that we respect.
Heldt went on to say that although Holtby, whose father is English, would be leaving the club at the end of the season, he has no doubt the youngster will give his all for Schalke until he leaves.
"We are sure he will give everything between now and the end of the season."
Holtby has been linked with a summer move to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Liverpool emerging as potential suitors.
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