Australia international Harry Kewell revealed he is looking forward to the challenge of playing his club football in Turkey ahead of his expected move to Galatasaray on Saturday.

The 29-year-old striker arrived in Istanbul late on Friday evening where he is set to put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the Turkish champions.

Kewell turned down a contract offer with Liverpool in May and entered the current transfer window as a free agent, with many clubs across Europe chasing his services.

He was reported to be heading to Celtic, Italy's Roma or Portsmouth, but Galatasaray swooped first.

"I'm ecstatic, I'm thrilled to bits and looking forward to the new challenge," Kewell said www.galatasaray.org. "I can't wait to join the team and get going.

"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.

"It's different and that's what I'm looking forward to - the new challenge."

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