Thousands of Galatasaray fans greet Sneijder

Thousands of fans have gathered Istanbul's main airport to greet Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder who has agreed to join Turkish club Galatasaray. Galatasaray

Wesley Sneijder is welcomed by Galatasaray supporters after his arrival at Ataturk airport :: AFP/Getty Images

Thousands of fans have gathered Istanbul's main airport to greet Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder who has agreed to join Turkish club Galatasaray.

Galatasaray reached a deal with Sneijder late Sunday for a reported 3 1/2- year contract worth euro5 million ($6.66 million) per season.

Frenzied fans awaited Sneijder's arrival in Istanbul on Monday, lighting flares and singing Galatasaray chants as the car carrying him left the terminal. Some fans were seen jumping on the car to try and hug the Dutch international, who was saluting the crowd from the sunroof.

Sneijder joins Galatasaray from Inter Milan. He joined that club in 2009 and helped it to a number of trophies.

He was seen as one of the top players available in this January transfer window after falling out with Inter.