Mark Schwarzer set to leave Fulham

Veteran Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer says he will leave Fulham after the Premier League club signed Dutch international Maarten Stekelenburg.

Schwarzer, 40, who pulled off some key saves in Australia’s 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with Japan this week, is out of contract next month.

He wanted to stay at the London side to ensure top-level football in the run-up to the World Cup in 2014, but Stekelenburg’s signing Wednesday convinced him it was time to move.

“That’s what I’ve heard (Stekelenburg’s signing) and I’ve been hearing that for a while so it’s no great surprise and I’ll be looking for another club,” he told Sydney‘s Daily Telegraph.

“Nothing has been sorted at the moment, the Japan game was the most important thing on the agenda so I’m worried about the Australia games now.”

Asked if Australia’s A-League was an option, he said: “Not at this stage, no. My family’s settled and the kids are in school and I wouldn’t (move) my family anyway.

“And when you talk about the length of season it’s never ideal when it finishes in April, so as far as I’m concerned I’ll try and stay in Europe for as long as possible and England would be ideal.”

Stekelenburg, who has won 54 caps for the Netherlands, joined Fulham from Italian side Roma on a four-year contract.

The 30-year-old becomes Fulham’s fourth signing of the close season, following earlier moves for German full-back Sascha Riether, Ghanaian midfielder Derek Boateng, and Venezuelan defender Fernando Amorebieta.