Hanover captain Lars Stindl announced on Wednesday that he will leave the club in the summer to join Bundesliga rivals Borussia Moenchengladbach.

The 26-year-old's deal with Hanover was not due to expire until 2016, but a clause in the contract allowed him to move on this year.

"I decided not to renew my contract with Hanover and to leave for Moenchengladbach this summer," Stindl wrote in a letter posted on Twitter, adding that he wished "to take on a new challenge at Borussia."

He chose Gladbach -- who won 2-0 at Bayern Munich at the weekend -- despite interest from fellow Champions League chasers Bayer Leverkusen.

Gladbach sporting director Max Eberl said: "We had stiff competition so I'm glad that he chose us.

"He is a midfielder who can play in different positions and, as captain of Hanover, he knows about taking responsibility."