A World Cup winner has had his contract terminated just three matches into the new season, calling an end to his turbulent 15-month spell at the football club.
Jerome Boateng, who won the 2014 World Cup with Germany during his decade-long spell at Bayern Munich between 2011 and 2021, signed a two-year deal with top flight Austrian club LASK Linz on May 31 last year after becoming a free agent.
But the 36-year-old defender's contract has now been terminated a year early by mutual consent after a torrid spell, with Boateng chalking up just 13 appearances for the club since the free transfer following a wealth of injury issues.
Just months after his arrival in Austria, Boateng avoided jail time but was handed a suspended fine and a warning after a German court found him guilty of premeditated bodily harm against his ex-girlfriend.
The mother of his twin daughters accused Boateng of hurling a lamp at her, which missed, during a fight they had on holiday in 2018 — and then of injuring her arm by throwing a small cool box at her and later hitting her and pulling her hair.
Boateng was ordered to pay a total of just over £84,000 to charity organisations by the judge, a court spokesperson said in July 2024, while the suspended fine of just over £168,000 only had to be paid if he committed another offence.
He was not charged with assault, coercion or defamation on the legal principle of 'in dubio pro reo', which dictates that a decision should favour the defendant in criminal cases if there is any ambiguity or doubt regarding their guilt.
Despite avoiding jail time, Boateng's legal case led to LASK fans loudly booing and insulting the former Germany international with 'wife beater' chants back in March.
Keen to pursue a fresh chapter elsewhere, Boateng said in a club statement on Wednesday: 'I would like to thank LASK for their trust and the time we spent together here in Linz.
'It was an enriching experience to work in a new environment once again. Now the time is right for me to open a new chapter.
'I will soon announce what new challenges — both sporting and personal — await me in the future.'
Meanwhile, LASK sporting director Dino Buric added: 'Jerome has always behaved professionally throughout his time at LASK and has done everything he can to help the team with his experience.
'He has played an important role, especially for our young players, by providing them with excellent support and encouragement.'