"I've accepted an offer from Bayern," he told Sport Bild newspaper.

''You don't get chances like this very often in your life,'' he added.

The 24-year-old player, who was born in Gelsenkirchen, is under contract with Schalke until the end of the season.

Since he joined the club in 2003 he has made 101 first team appearances, scoring eight goals.

Bayern manager Ottmar Hitzfeld confirmed the move of a player he described as having 'a big physical presence, in attack and in defence".

Altintop is the second signing at Bayern for next season after Aachen's german international Jan Schlaudraff.