Klose heeds Bayern call at last

Miroslav Klose has become the latest big name to join the new-look FC Bayern München after completing his move from Bundesliga rivals Werder Bremen.

Prolific scorer
Klose, who had previously been linked with a move to Bayern in summer 2008, had spent three seasons at Bremen scoring 53 goals in 89 league matches. He first made his name at 1. FC Kaiserslautern with his breakthrough campaign coming in the 2000/01 season. Klose, who also has 33 goals in 69 matches for Germany, has moved for an undisclosed fee, thought to be in the region of €12m. "It is a deal that is fair for everyone," said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

New faces
With Bayern contemplating their first season without the UEFA Champions League football in eleven seasons, the club is determined to avoid a repeat in the coming campaign. German internationals Marcell Jansen and Jan Schlaudraff, Turkey midfielder Hamit Altıntop, Argentina playmaker José Ernesto Sosa, France winger Franck Ribéry and Italy striker Luca Toni have all joined while Brazilian midfielder Zé Roberto is also returning to his former club.

Situation changed
Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs said: "We know that we are losing a successful player but Miro's change of heart combined with Bayern's new offer has changed the situation compared to where we were at the end of the season. This has moved us to not continue the current contract." Bremen face a UEFA Champions League qualifier in August in order to reach the group stage but do not feel the need to sign a replacement. "We have shown in the last season that we are capable of delivering top performances without him," Allofs added.