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Frank Lampard will play for Manchester City's A-League side Melbourne City in Australia next season, ahead of his move to the Etihad club's Major League Soccer franchise New York City FC.

Following confirmation of his departure from Chelsea last month - as exclusively revealed by Mirror Sport - Lampard will join David Villa in Oz for the start of the A-League season in October before the pair move to the MLS next spring, when New York City will begin play.

A deal has been agreed and an announcement is set to be made soon.

Lampard, Chelsea’s all-time top goalscorer, agreed his move to New York City FC at the end of May around the same time as Villa did.

The Big Apple club, howecer, do not kick off their debut campaign until March and Lampard has always maintained he has no intention of playing for another Premier League club against Chelsea.

Both New York City and Melbourne City - previously known as Melbourne Heart - are owned by Man City supremo Sheik Mansour.

Lampard will be reunited Down Under with his former Chelsea team-mate Damien Duff, who has already signed for Melbourne City on a one-year deal.

Ex-Australia and Chelsea keeper Mark Schwarzer has revealed he's already spoken to the midfielder about Melbourne.

Schwarzer said: “All I can say is that he did ask me about Melbourne Heart. He did ask me what Melbourne was like and what Melbourne Heart was like.

“I said Sydney was the best place to live!! [Schwarzer is from there]. But I spoke very highly of Melbourne. I actually love Melbourne. It’s a great city. I told him how passionate in particular the Victorians are with their sport.

“There is huge potential in the game in Australia and it would be unbelieveable if he went to Australia. I said to him that he would love living there. its a great place to live.

“He walked away with that and I know what he’s like. So we will see.”