"VfB and Real Madrid have agreed on the midfielder's move to the Spanish capital," the German club said on their website (www.vfb.de).

"As soon as the German international has passed a medical exam, he will put his signature on the contract." VfB, where Khedira made his professional debut in 2006, said they were sorry to let the 23-year-old go.

"One is always extremely unhappy to let go a player who dictates the game and is easily identified with, such as Sami Khedira," said Stuttgart's sporting director Fred Bobic.

"On the other hand we were able to fulfill Sami's wishes of furthering his career at Real. We wish him all the success with his new challenge." Khedira, who made his international debut in the friendly against South Africa last September, was not expected to feature in Germany's World Cup team but was given his chance following the injury, which kept captain Michael Ballack out of the tournament.

He formed an impressive partnership with Bastian Schweinsteiger as Germany finished third.

He has 12 caps and scored his first international goal in the third-place playoff against Uruguay in South Africa.

Meanwhile, Landon Donovan says he still wants to head back to Everton and the English Premier League.

The 28-year-old US forward scored twice in a 13-game spell at the northwest England side while on loan from Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy between January and March.

Donovan returned to the Galaxy but has repeatedly spoken of his desire to return to a club where he was an instant hit with fans.

Donovan says on Everton's website Friday he "would love to go back ... I love the people there." Donovan added that other clubs had made approaches but that any interest in signing him was "only preliminary." He says "if it's serious, then we'll treat it seriously."

In another development, the AFC Champions League final will be hosted by one of the two finalists from next year after organizers scrapped the use of neutral venues in a bid to improve attendances.

Last year, around 25,000 fans witnessed South Korea's Pohang Steelers beat Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia in Tokyo in the first one-match final since the competition rebranded for 2003.

"The committee was of the view that if the grand finale is hosted by either of the two finalists it would lead to more fan participation and boost the image of the tournament," a statement on the AFC website (www.the-afc.com) said.

This year's showpiece will again be played in the Japanese capital but the AFC said that a draw would be made before the 2011 and 2012 finals to determine which of the two finalists will host the match.

The 32-team AFC Champions League is the biggest club competition in Asia with teams in the early rounds split into two regions, East and West, to help traveling costs.

But with the successful teams from the two sections coming together for the quarterfinals, away match travel can prove difficult and expensive for fans in a region stretching from the Middle East through to Australia.