Schalke to sign shot-stopper Hildebrand

Schalke 04 have signed former Germany goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand until the end of the season after first-choice Ralf Fahrmann was ruled out for several months with torn ankle ligaments, the club said on Friday.

Hildebrand, once seen as a successor to Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann in the national team, is a free agent after his contract with Sporting Lisbon ended at the conclusion of last season.

The 32-year-old has won seven caps and has also played for VfB Stuttgart, Valencia and Hoffenheim.

Bayer Leverkusen left-back Michal Kadlec has extended his contract by two years and will now stay with the club until 2015, last season's runners-up said on Friday.

The 26-year-old Czech international, who joined in 2008, set up Leverkusen's first goal in the 2-1 comeback win over Valencia in the Champions League on Wednesday.

"I have become a starting player here and have developed," Kadlec said in a statement.

Hoffenheim keeper Tom Starke will miss Saturday's home game against Borussia Monchengladbach after suffering concussion in training.

Starke was hit on the head by a shot from defender Andreas Beck and will be out for several days, the club said.

Hoffenheim are in ninth place, nine points behind leaders Bayern Munich.