Ambitious Frankfurt land Duisburg striker Laudehr

UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-finalists 1. FFC Frankfurt have signed German international striker Simone Laudehr from Bundesliga rivals FCR 2001 Duisburg.

Laudehr, who has been capped 50 times by Germany and famously scored in their 2-0 FIFA Women's World Cup final victory against Brazil in 2007, has agreed terms on a deal that will keep her at Frankfurt until summer 2015.

"After seven years at Duisburg I have decided to enter a new chapter in my career and I do so with mixed emotions," said the 25-year-old, who won the 2009 UEFA Women's Cup with Duisburg. "At 1. FFC Frankfurt I believe I have found the right conditions to take the next step forward in my career: a professional environment, the club's high aims and the big interest in me as a footballer and a person have convinced me to take that step."

Frankfurt's general manager Siegfried Dietrich added: "We are very pleased to have signed another big personality and symbol of German and international women's football in Simone Laudehr. With her extraordinary footballing qualities, her experience and her charisma, Simone perfectly fits into our plans to build a top-class side for the future. She is expected to play an important role."

Frankfurt lie a point behind second-placed Duisburg, and five points behind 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam in the league standings, having played a game more than the top two. Sven Kahlert's charges travel to FC Malmö for the first leg of their UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final on 14/15 March with the return scheduled for the following week.