 Announcement ... Schwarzer has declared his hand. AP |
AUSTRALIA goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has transferred from Middlesbrough to Barclays Premier League rivals Fulham.The move ends months of speculation about the future of the 35-year-old, who was due to become a free agent next month after 11 years and 367 games at Boro.
"I have signed with Fulham for two years," Schwarzer said after joining his Socceroos teammates in Sydney ahead of the international friendly with Ghana at the Sydney Football Stadium.
"I don`t really want to speak about this at this moment in time. I`d like to speak about the game and concentrate on the game for us. After the game on Friday night ... we can talk more about my future, no problems."
The veteran was originally due to arrive from England last Monday, but his trip was delayed so he could continue contract negotiations.
Schwarzer is relieved to have sorted out his future before Australia`s World Cup qualifiers next month.
He said, in an "ideal situation", he would have loved the deal to have been organised sooner so he could have been in camp with the Socceroos all week.
"Unfortunately these things don`t always happen that way and I felt that it was important to ... not affect any preparations for the qualifiers, obviously,`` he said, adding that he was confident he would be ready to play against Ghana.
"Obviously it`s a long trip ... but I feel fine. I trained this morning. I`m almost 100 per cent."
Fulham narrowly escaped relegation with a last-day win away at Portsmouth, while Middlesbrough finished four places higher in 13th.
Watch the Socceroos against Ghana, and in every World Cup qualifying match, LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on Fox Sports. Also have your say with live blogging on the website throughout every game.
AAP
