Fabio Schneider has put pen-to-paper on his first professional contract at 1. FC Union Berlin. 

The midfielder joined the Union academy in 2015 having grown up in the capital. Schneider has featured for Union's U17 and U19 teams who compete in their respective Bundesliga divisions. He will complete his Abitur exams in 2021 and will be a permanent fixture in the U19 group this season. 

By signing Schneider long-term, 1. FC Union Berlin's academy is consolidating the strategy of retaining talented players early and offering them first-team contracts at the right time.

"I'm really pleased with this offer from the club. It was a great motivation a year ago, which provides a challenge not only in sports but also in school. Of course I am happy to accept these challenges and will do everything to be as successful as possible," said Fabio Schneider at the signing of the contract.

"Fabio has been playing with us for over five years. We know his skills very well and have also been able to closely observe his handling of setbacks. We are therefore convinced that he will make the leap into professional football in the coming years. First of all, it is now important to make the last U19 year a successful one and to use targeted measures to establish initial ties with our pros," said Lutz Munack, Director for Youth and Amateur Football at 1. FC Union Berlin.