Genoa swoop to sign Italy striker Gilardino

Genoa CFC have signed Italy striker Alberto Gilardino from Serie A rivals ACF Fiorentina for an undisclosed fee.

Genoa confirmed Gilardino, 29, has put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half year contract and plan to unveil him today. "I can't wait for the beginning of this new adventure," the player said on his personal website. "I'm going to play for a big team and I'll do my best to repay the club's confidence. I also wish to thank Fiorentina and their supporters for the beautiful period spent together."

Gilardino, who won the 2006 FIFA World Cup with Italy and has scored 17 goals in 47 appearances for the Azzurri, made his name at Parma FC, finding the net 50 times in Serie A before leaving for AC Milan in 2005. He spent three seasons at San Siro, helping the club win the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in 2007.

Fiorentina signed him the following year and he scored 48 goals in 118 top-flight games with the Viola. Gilardino will be reunited at his new club with Sébastien Frey, his team-mate at Fiorentina until 2010. However, he will not work under Alberto Malesani – his coach at Hellas Verona FC during the start of his career – who was replaced at the Grifoni helm by Pasquale Marino in December with Genoa sitting tenth in Serie A.