Former Liverpool winger Harry Kewell has signed a two-year contract with Turkish champions Galatasaray.

The 29-year-old Australian has been available on a free transfer since he was released by Liverpool in May after five injury-plagued seasons.

“You could say it’s a new chapter,” Kewell said on his move to Istanbul.

“I wanted to move on and this is the best way. I can’t wait to get started, it’s just what I’m looking forward to, a new challenge.”

Kewell joined Liverpool from Leeds and had been linked with a move to Roma, Spartak Moscow and Portsmouth.

His switch to Galatasaray would end any possibility of Kewell being one of Australia’s three over-age players at the Beijing Olympics.

Kewell was sent off playing for Leeds against Galatasaray in the 2000 Uefa Cup semi-final.

And he scored a goal and helped set up another in Australia’s 3-1 win over Qatar in June that guaranteed them a place in the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

Kewell, who was welcomed by throngs of supporters his arrival in Istanbul, said he was excited to have joined a club with such a large fan base.

“I know that that fans are passionate about sport and I love that,” he said. “I can’t wait to get more of it.

“There’s a lot of talk about the Turkish league, it’s coming up in the world.

“The national team has done well in the last couple of international tournaments and there’s a lot of young talent here.”

Source: BBC Sport