Harry Kewell has agreed a three-year deal with Turkish side Galatasaray after he was released by Liverpool.
Galatasaray official Haldun Ustunel said they had reached agreement and Kewell was expected to arrive in Istanbul late on Friday.
“As a result of long-standing efforts, we have come to the point of recruiting a very important player to Galatasaray,” Ustunel told the club’s website.
“We have agreed on all issues. He shares our excitement,” said Ustunel, describing Kewell as “a great power”.
The move to Galatasaray has ended any possibility of Kewell being one of Australia’s three over-age players at the Beijing Olympics.
The move to Galatasaray has ended any possibility of Kewell representing Australia at the at the Beijing Olympics.
“It’s not easy for him as soon as he signs for a new club to ask for four weeks to go to the Olympics,” said Olympics coach Graham Arnold.
“You’ve got to look at Galatasaray, they are in the Champions League as well so that comes in early August, it’s not the perfect time for Harry.
“Harry made this decision that he didn’t want to let the team down and didn’t want to let down the football community by saying he’d come and then have to pull out after a couple of weeks and leave us a player short.
“I think it’s a very honourable decision.”
