Dimitar Berbatov completes loan move to Monaco

Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov has joined Ligue 1 club Monaco on loan until the end of the season.

The 33-year-old Bulgarian, who is out of contract this summer, has scored five goals in 19 games this season.

Berbatov was linked with a return to his former club Tottenham but will see out the season in the French league.

'I'm happy, excited and a little bit nervous to be honest,' Berbatov told Monaco's official website, www.asm-fc.com.

'I look forward to starting training with my new team-mates and open a new chapter in my career.'

Berbatov will wear the number 15 at Stade Louis II, where he will stay until the end of the season, when his contract with the Cottagers expires.

Speaking about the addition of Berbatov, Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev said: 'Dimitar will bring us all his experience and talent.

'His coming is of course connected to Radamel Falcao's injury. He played in big clubs such as Manchester United and he's a big striker.

'We still have two competitions to play and he will be an asset with Emmanuel Riviere, Valere Germain and Anthony Martial. He has a different profile than our other forwards.'

Monaco are likely to be without striker Radamel Falcao, signed in May for a reported £50m, until next season after he sustained a serious knee injury.

Former Manchester United striker Berbatov has scored 19 goals in 51 Premier League appearances for Fulham since leaving Old Trafford in August 2012.

The Cottagers, who have signed Greece striker Konstantinos Mitroglou for about £11m and Tottenham midfielder Lewis Holtby on loan, are 19th in the table, two points from safety.

Monaco, meanwhile, are second in Ligue 1, six points adrift of Paris St-Germain.