Spain international Jorge Garbajosa has confirmed he is heading to the NBA next season.

The Unicaja Malaga forward is set to join the Toronto Raptors where he will play alongside Spain team-mate Jose Manuel Calderon.

"I haven't signed the contract yet because it cannot be done until July 1st," Garbajosa said in a press conference on Tuesday.

"This is a new challenge for me, I am going to compete in the best league in the world and I cannot turn down this opportunity.

"This train only comes once and I have to take it.

		Garbajosa will join fellow national team player José Calderón in Toronto

"I hope the Unicaja fans understand my position and that they accept my decision."

Garbajosa is under contract with the Liga ACB side for a further two seasons but announced that he will pay his buy-out clause estimated at 1.8 million euros.

The 28-year-old is now planning to fly to Canada to negotiate his contract.

"In the next few days, I will travel to Toronto to meet the club, get to know the city, speak to them and try to begin my adventure there."

Garbajosa's arrival is another sign of the influence of Maurizio Gherardini, the new assistant general manager of Toronto who spent the previous 14 years with Benetton Treviso in Italy.

The 207cm Garbajosa spent four years with Benetton, collecting the MVP award in the Coppa Italia, before moving to Unicaja in the summer of the 2004.

Toronto are expected to sign Benetton's Italian forward Andrea Bargnani with the first pick in Wednesday's draft.

Unicaja had hoped that Garbajosa would reconsider his decision having played a pivotal role for the club to clinch the Spanish league title this season.

The Spanish international who earlier this week was selected in Pepu Hernandez's FIBA World Championship squad, was voted most valuable player in the ACB final play-offs.

"I thank the club for their effort they have made to try to keep me," he said.

"I don't rule out in the future returning to this club."

Garbajosa will add to the growing Spanish influence in the NBA. In addition to the Raptors' Calderon, Pau Gasol has established himself as the Memphis Grizzlies' most recognisable face, while last year the Orlando Magic drafted Fran Vazquez in the first round.

Barcelona's Juan Carlos Navarro is also eager to head to North America, but has been told he must pay his own release clause if he wants to leave.