Leicester have announced the signing of veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer from Chelsea on a free transfer.

The 42-year-old has joined on a one and a half year deal and is likely to go straight into the team with regular number one with Kasper Schmeichel absent with a foot injury.

Schwarzer was third choice at the Blues behind Thibaut Courtois and Petr Cech and had not played for the west London club this season.

Schwarzer has made over 500 appearances in the Premier League for Middlesbrough, Fulham and the Chelsea, while he also played 109 times for Australia.

"I feel really excited about the challenge. When I first arrived, got a great buzz and feel about Leicester," Schwarzer told the club's Twitter account.

Schwarzer, who played both legs of Chelsea's Champions League semi-final encounter with Atletico Madrid last season, could get the nod ahead of Ben Hamer for a starting place in Saturday's Premier League match with Aston Villa.

Schwarzer is likely to be joined at Leicester by Andrej Kramaric, who is expected to soon complete his move from Rijeka.

The striker is at the Foxes putting the finishing touches to a deal after traveling to the city with the Croatian club's assistant sporting director Ivan Mance.

Press Association Sport understands Croatia international Kramaric is poised to sign a three-and-a-half year contract.

Kramaric has scored two goals in four games for his country after starting his career with Dinamo Zagreb.

Chelsea had been interested in the forward but they failed to agree terms with Rijeka after their initial offer.

Schwarzer was keen to work with Nigel Pearson, whom he played with while at Middlesbrough in the 1990s.

"Automatically, when I got here, I got a great buzz and feel about the club," Schwarzer told the Leicester website before explaining why he chose to sign for the Foxes.

"The opportunity to work with Nigel Pearson, who I played with back at Middlesbrough, and to be more involved and play more football.

"At Chelsea I didn't play a lot and the last six months has been the toughest part when I haven't been involved at all at times.

"The opportunity of playing some games is very enticing for me."