Former Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is on the verge of completing his move from joint Premier League leaders Chelsea to struggling Leicester City.



After days of speculation, manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed that the 42-year-old is leaving Stamford Bridge.



Chelsea confirmed Schwarzer’s imminent departure on Twitter: “Jose Mourinho thanks Mark Schwarzer who he says is leaving to go to Leicester. He says he is a fantastic professional. #CFC”



The first Australian to earn 100 international caps, Schwarzer will be moving from a team that shares the league lead with Manchester City to a side three points adrift at bottom of the table and fighting to avoid an immediate return to the second tier.



But at least he should get more playing time. Schwarzer played just 12 matches for Chelsea after joining from Fulham at the end of the 2012-13 season, a campaign in which he became the first overseas player to make 500 Premier League appearances.

The former Bradford and Middlesbrough keeper joined the Blues as back-up for Petr Cech, who has since been benched by the emergence of Thibaut Courtois - pushing Schwarzer further down the pecking order to third place.



With Kasper Schmeichel injured and the relatively untested Ben Hamer currently between the sticks, Schwarzer is likely to go straight into Leicester’s first XI.