MADISON, Wis. - Forward Madison FC today announced the signing of Bernd Schipmann, a 28-year-old Philippine international goalkeeper from Münster, Germany, pending league and federation approval.

“Bernd brings international experience and has spent some time with us in the past,” Head Coach Matt Glaeser said. “He has good size, the ability to help us start attacks and a calm presence.”

Schipmann grew up in Germany and began his youth soccer career playing for SC Greven 09 before spending time within the youth ranks of VfL Osnabrück and Eintracht Frankfurt. The goalkeeper finished out his youth career with the FC Schalke 04 academy in 2013 before he eventually got promoted to Regionalliga West side FC Schalke 04 II, where his professional career kicked off. Schipmann made two appearances with the reserve team before transferring to 3. Liga side Holstein Kiel. Schipmann made a name for himself with Holstein Kiel II in the fifth-tier Oberliga Schleswig-Holstein, as he made 59 appearances over three seasons.

In 2018, the goalkeeper left Holstein Kiel II for fourth-tier Oberliga Westfalen club Rot Weiss Ahlen. In Ahlen, Schipmann made 61 appearances over three years and logged 11 clean sheets over that span. In 2021, Schipmann left his native Germany for the first time, signing with Thai League 1 side Ratchaburi FC.

Schipmann's success in Germany's lower leagues earned the goalkeeper a national team call-up to the Phillippines through his mother's Filipino heritage. At the international level, Schipmann made three appearances for Azkals in AFC Asian Qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In his three appearances, Schipmann faced China, Guam and the Maldives in 2021 and was named to the bench for four AFF Championship matches in 2021.