Inter bring in Sampdoria striker Pazzini

Reigning European champions FC Internazionale Milano have signed Italy striker Giampaolo Pazzini from UC Sampdoria for a reported fee of €13m, with forward Jonathan Biabiany moving in the opposite direction.

"Everything is wonderful here," said Pazzini after passing a medical in Milan. "It was a surprise; I still cannot believe what's happening but I'm very happy, that's for sure."

The 26-year-old Pazzini, who will have a contract until 2015 with the Nerazzurri, joined Sampdoria from ACF Fiorentina in January 2009 and scored 36 goals in 75 league games for the Genoa side. Capped 14 times by Italy, the one-time Atalanta BC trainee won the 2003 UEFA European Under-19 Championship with the Azzurrini and hit a hat-trick for Italy's U21s in the first game at the new Wembley Stadium back in 2007.

Pazzini played for Sampdoria in this season's UEFA Champions League play-off round but his three goals against SV Werder Bremen were not enough for the Blucerchiati to qualify for the group stage, with the German team prevailing 5-4 on aggregate in extra time.

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old Biabiany has left Inter for Sampdoria. The former AC Chievo Verona player had returned Inter last summer after a loan spell at Parma FC, and has appeared in 14 Serie A matches and five more in the UEFA Champions League group stage for the Beneamata this term.

Inter will face FC Bayern München in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 next month. The Serie A title holders have also added to their youth ranks by signing 18-year-old Austrian midfielder Christoph Knasmullner from Bayern, and his countryman Lukas Spendlhofer, a 17-year-old forward, from SKN St Pölten.