Dutch international midfielder Stijn Schaars has signed for Sporting Lisbon after agreeing a three-year contract, the Portuguese club has confirmed.

The 27-year-old arrives from Dutch first division side AZ Alkmaar on a deal worth €850,000 ($1.2 million).  Schaars becomes Sporting's second Dutch international recruit for next season after striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel earlier this month signed a five-year deal with the club who finished third in the Portuguese league.

It always has been a dream for me to go on a foreign adventure.
Stijn Schaars, Dutch midfielder

"It always has been a dream for me to go on a foreign adventure," Schaars said. "After Sporting contacted me I didn't have to think about it for long. It's one of the best clubs from Portugal along with Porto and Benfica.

"I have had some good years at AZ and I want to thank the club for that, but I wanted to look further. In Holland I only wanted to play for PSV or Ajax and otherwise it had to be a foreign club."