Felipe Santana leaves Borussia Dortmund for Schalke

Brazilian defender Felipe Santana has become the latest player to leave Borussia Dortmund after completing a move to Bundesliga rivals Schalke 04 this afternoon.

Santana had a transfer request accepted by Dortmund last week and has moved swiftly to sign a three-year deal with Champions League qualifiers Schalke.

The 27-year-old has made the move in search of regular first-team football after regularly falling behind central defenders Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic in Jurgen Klopp's plans at Dortmund.

Despite joining Mario Gotze in swapping Dortmund for a bitter rival Santana has insisted that the move was purely aimed at maximising his chances to start matches.

He told BVB's official website: "It was a tough decision for me to leave. That is clear by the fact I extended my contract last summer even though I was not playing regularly.

"But I have got to play regularly now if I want my dream of playing for the Brazil national team to become reality, and that is the aim I have."

In a five-year spell with Klopp's side Santana scored six goals in 95 appearances, with his most memorable strike securing a last-gasp victory over Malaga in the Champions League.

Dortmund completed a deal for a ready-made replacement earlier this week after signing Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Werder Bremen on five-year contract.