Berlin, Jan 4, 2020 (AFP) - Goalkeeper Alexander Nubel has agreed to join Bayern Munich on a free transfer, the club announced on Saturday, becoming the latest potential successor to Manuel Neuer.

The 23-year-old, who has played 17 times for Germany's under-21 team, had refused to extend his contract at Schalke and will join the German champions at the end of the season on a five-year contract.

Neuer, who moved from Schalke in 2011, has been injury prone in recent years but the 33-year-old has started 26 games this season and remains the Bayern captain. He is reportedly about to sign a two-year contract extension.

Nubel earned a four-match suspension in December after catching Frankfurt's Mijat Gacinovic in the chest with a flying kick after missing the ball.

Nubel's salary at Bayern will be around €5.5 million ($6.14 million) per season, AFP subsidiary SID reported, which is less than the €7-million offer from Schalke he turned down in December.