The 1. FC Nürnberg goalkeeper Raphael Schäfer will leave the Bundesliga club at the end of the season to join rivals VfB Stuttgart on a four-year contract.

Agreement reached
Nürnberg sporting director Martin Bader said: "We have reached an agreement with VfB Stuttgart about Raphael's transfer. We regret losing our team captain, but Raphael wants to join Stuttgart and we accept that." Nürnberg had an option to extend Schäfer's contract for another year but decided to cash in instead with a sum of €2m being reported.

Contract withdrawal
The 27-year-old custodian joined Nürnberg in 2001 from third-division side VfB Lübeck and has played 80 Bundesliga and 33 second division games for the club to date. Stuttgart moved for Schäfer after withdrawing their contract offer to current keeper Timo Hildebrand. Stuttgart's sporting director Horst Heldt said: "We had different options but signed Schäfer because he is exactly what we have been looking for." Seventh-placed Nürnberg meet Stuttgart, in fourth, at the Frankenstadion in the Bundesliga this weekend.