Palop adds experience to Leverkusen

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed experienced goalkeeper Andrés Palop from Sevilla FC on a free transfer.

The 39-year-old, who helped Sevilla win successive UEFA Cups in 2006 and 2007, has signed a 12-month deal with Leverkusen, who will enter the UEFA Champions League group stage after finishing third in the Bundesliga. Palop, a member of the Spain squad that won UEFA EURO 2008, spent eight years at Sevilla having previously spent a similar period at Valencia CF as Santiago Cañizares's understudy.

"I am very happy to be able to play in another country after all these years in the Primera División," Palop said. "The Bundesliga has become interesting for players from all over Europe and of course Leverkusen, as a top side in Germany and a starter in the UEFA Champions League, are especially interesting to me."

Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Völler added: "Following the departure of Michael Rensing [to Fortuna Düsseldorf], we were looking for an experienced back-up keeper who we could depend on should Bernd Leno be sidelined, and from whom Bernd can benefit from working with in training. We have found him in Andrés Palop."