Bayern sew up Starke from Hoffenheim

Bayern Munich have announced the signing of Hoffenheim goalkeeper Tom Starke.

The Bavarian giants had been looking for a new understudy to Manuel Neuer since Hans-Jorg Butt announced that he will hang up his gloves at the end of the season.

Neither club has disclosed the details of the transfer, with Bayern stating only that the 31-year-old has signed a contract until 2015.

“This is the best club in Germany and one of the three best in the world,” Starke told Bayern’s website.

“It is a great honour to be called by one of those clubs. I am very proud, and I feel it is the confirmation of my good performances in recent years.

“My time at Hoffenheim came to a very abrupt end, so I first had to seriously ask myself if I was prepared to accept second-choice status.

“But after talking to (Bayern general manager) Christian Nerlinger, the matter was settled for me personally. I was determined to come here, and I’m pleased it has worked out.”

Starke, a former Germany Under-21 international, joined Hoffenheim in 2010 after three years at second-division side Duisburg.