Stuttgart striker Gomez to move to Bayern

FRANKFURT (AP) -Striker Mario Gomez is leaving Stuttgart for Bundesliga rival Bayern Munich.

Both clubs announced the transfer Tuesday, although the deal will be completed when Gomez returns next week from the national team tour of Asia. Gomez, who has six goals in 23 games for Germany, left with the team Tuesday for games in China and the United Arab Emirates.

"Bayern is very pleased that Mario Gomez has decided to choose our club,'' Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said.

Rummenigge called Gomez a "first-class striker'' and one of the top forwards in Germany.

Gomez won the Bundesliga title with Stuttgart in 2007 and scored 24 goals for the club this season, as Stuttgart finished in third place. Gomez scored the only goal for Stuttgart in a 2-1 loss at Bayern. He still has three years on his contract with Stuttgart.

In 121 games for Stuttgart between 2004 and 2009, Gomez scored 63 goals.

"Twice before, we've managed to keep Mario. Now, he has chosen to move on,'' said Stuttgart manager Horst Heldt. "It's a great pity. He's contributed enormously to the team and played a major role in our successes.''

In statement released by Stuttgart, Gomez said it was not an easy decision.

"I've had a great time in Stuttgart. ... I know that many Stuttgart fans won't be happy that I want to move to Bayern but I hope they will remember the great times we've had here together,'' he said.

Bayern said final talks will be held next week when Gomez returns from the trip "and then he will sign a contract with Bayern.''

Gomez, 23, called Bayern "something special.''

"I want to go after the Bundesliga title next season with Bayern and I am really looking forward to Champions League games,'' Gomez said.

Wolfsburg won the Bundesliga championship, while Bayern was second. Both will compete in the Champions League, while Stuttgart, which finished third, has to qualify.

Gomez will be the second new striker to arrive in Bayern next season after Ivica Olic, who played for Hamburger SV. Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose are staying at the club, but Lukas Podolski is returning to FC Cologne.

Bayern never led the standings during the season and fired coach Juergen Klinsmann five games before its end. The new coach next season will be Louis van Gaal of the Netherlands.

Bayern Munich has also signed midfielder Alexander Baumjohann from Borussia Moenchengladbach and defender Anatoly Timoshchuk from Zenit St. Petersburg. Defender Andreas Goerlitz, who was on loan to demoted Karlsruhe, is returning to the club.