German central defender Sebastian Schonlau, 31, terminated his contract with the Vancouver Whitecaps to sign for Holstein Kiel on a free transfer, reuniting him with coach Tim Walter. Walter described Schonlau as his former captain and a key contact at HSV, adding that Kiel is gaining an absolute leader who has internalized their playing philosophy. The deal is considered low-risk for the second-division club, as Schonlau's contract is heavily performance-based and initially runs for only one year, though it includes an option for a further season. The health problems that troubled Schonlau at HSV and limited his playing time in Canada are reportedly resolved since undergoing special therapy with Unterhaching bio-statistician Ralph Frank.