Bayern Munich announced Monday striker Mario Gomez will join Italian side Fiorentina.

Champions League winner Bayern said an agreement had been reached "in principle" for the 27-year-old, who found his place in the Bavarian team taken by Mario Manduzkic last season.

The two clubs had been negotiating over the transfer for some time, with Bayern saying last week the deal was dead as the Florentine club was apparently unwilling to meet the German double winners' 20 million euro ($25.7 million) asking price.

Bayern's communications director, Markus Horwick, said a contract until 2017 should be signed "in the next two weeks." Gomez is expected to earn about 4 million euros a season.

Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport claims the transfer will cost Fiorentina 15 million euros.

Gomez was under contract in Munich until 2016.

Despite being benched for most of the campaign, he still managed 19 goals last season, including two in the German Cup final.

Known as "Super Mario" after the video game character, Gomez joined Bayern in 2009 from Stuttgart for 35 million euros.

He has scored 25 goals for Germany in 58 appearances.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 07/10/2013 page24)