The 32-year-old will spend the last six months of the season with the Giallorossi where he will first bid to convince Italy coach Marcelo Lippi that he deserves a place in the squad he takes to South Africa - and also prove to Roma boss Claudio Ranieri that he is worth signing on a full-time deal.

The loan move will not cost Roma a fee, although they do take over the payment of Toni's wages until the end of the season, when they will then have the option to buy the striker outright.

And Ranieri already appears convinced he has the right man to strengthen his side's push for a place in the Champions League next season.

"He is just what we need," said Ranieri on the Roma Channel.

"He is not selfish and he is a predator. Our team, when they express themselves well, exploit the wings and keep the ball on the ground.

"A player like him could allow us to create some dangerous moments with the ball in the air too."

Toni, who shot to fame in the 2005/06 season when he scored 31 goals for Fiorentina to earn the European Golden Show award, moved to Bayern in 2007 and hit the ground running with 24 goals in his first season in the Bundesliga, earning him the league's top-goalscorer prize.

He added a further 14 goals last season, helping Bayern finish second in the Bundesliga, but has failed to find the back of the net in just four appearances this season and he recently fell out with coach Louis van Gaal.

Given the unlikelihood of him finding a way back into Van Gaal's good books, Toni recently requested a transfer and Bayern's board of directors agreed to sanction the move.

"The board of Bayern thanks Luca Toni for the success, in particular the double in 2008, that the club has been able to celebrate with Luca and wish him all the best for his time at Roma, much success and, above all, that he takes part in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa," read a statement on the www.fcbayern.de website.

"Luca Toni has thanked Bayern for their success together and the great time and wished Bayern the German title in 2010 and a successful campaign in the DFB-Pokal and the Champions League."

Toni is already in Italy, where he successfully passed a medical in the capital yesterday, and he is due to link up with his new team-mates on Saturday in preparation for what is likely to be his debut next Wednesday against Cagliari.

He will not have to wait too long before facing his former club Fiorentina either with Roma due to visit the Viola on February 7.

With Roma, Toni will be reunited with Francesco Totti, his strike partner in Italy's 2006 World Cup winning side, who is also looking forward to partnering him again in Serie A.

"Certainly I believe that Luca Toni is a solid and reliable striker, he is a world champion," wrote the Roma captain on his own website.