Klose leaves Bayern for Lazio

Germany forward Miroslav Klose has signed for UEFA Europa League play-off round entrants S.S. Lazio after the expiry of his FC Bayern München contract.

Klose, who turns 33 today, agreed a two-year deal with last term's fifth-placed Serie A finishers. The move will take the Polish-born striker out of Germany for the first time after a career spent with FC Homburg, 1. FC Kaiserslautern and SV Werder Bremen prior to his four seasons with Bayern.

The 2006 FIFA World Cup top scorer has managed 61 goals in his 109 appearances for Germany in addition to 167 top-level club strikes over the last 12 seasons, including 52 in all competitions for Bayern, where he won two Bundesliga titles.

Last week Klose was quoted as saying: "My wife and I have been to Rome on vacation and it is a fantastic city. The food is wonderful, too... I tracked [Lazio's] progress and they have a very solid squad including Mauro Zárate, Hernanes, Cristian Ledesma and André Dias. I also like the club colours. There is a lot of joy around the club and that means a lot to me."