Midfielder Raffael joins Schalke on loan from Kiev

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP) -Brazilian midfielder Raffael is joining Schalke on loan until the end of the season from Dynamo Kiev.

Schalke said Wednesday it has an option to give Raffael a full contract for a transfer fee at the end of the season.

Raffael played in the Bundesliga for Hertha Berlin between 2008 and 2012. He scored 23 goals in 110 Bundesliga matches. He also played in 30 second-division matches, scoring 10 goals.

Schalke has fallen from second to seventh place and has several injured players, including Ibrahim Afellay. It kicks off the second half of the season Friday against Hannover.