Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has announced
he has agreed to move to Fulham from Premier League rivals
Middlesbrough.
The deal comes after drawn-out negotiations with Boro
broke down.
Schwarzer will move to Craven Cottage on a two-year deal, double
the length offered by the club he served for 11 years.
The 35-year-old touched down in Sydney on Thursday ahead of the
Socceroos' four World Cup qualifiers next month and explained his
decision to the media.
"I thought it was important to sort it out sooner rather than
later so it didn't affect preparations for the qualifiers,"
Schwarzer said.
"I was very confident something would be sorted out.
"I had a few other options but felt this was the best one for
me.
"I don't think anyone can say anything negative about my stay at
Middlesbrough, I fulfilled every contract I had with them."
Schwarzer had been linked with Bayern Munich in Germany as well
as a possible move to Italy.
Schwarzer's fitness is under a cloud heading into Australia's
friendly with Ghana on Friday night but he is expected to play in
the upcoming qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.