Inter sign Ranocchia, Genoa get Destro

FC Internazionale Milano have reached an agreement with Genoa CFC to sign Andrea Ranocchia for an undisclosed fee, with the 1.95m-tall defender to switch clubs in summer 2011. In a separate arrangement, Internazionale's Italy Under-19 striker Mattia Destro has been loaned to Genoa for one season.

The 22-year-old Ranocchia's playing licence will be held jointly between the two Serie A teams, and he will remain at Genoa for one more campaign while having an Inter contract until 2015. Ranocchia was a Perugia Calcio trainee before making his professional bow with AC Arezzo in Serie B in 2006/07 and then transferring to Genoa in 2008.

The centre-back has spent the last two seasons on loan at AS Bari, winning promotion in his first campaign and becoming a Serie A regular last term until a knee injury in January ended his involvement. Part of Italy's squad at the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, he was involved in their current qualifying campaign prior to his injury.

Destro, who has trained with Inter's senior side, is leading Italy's line at the UEFA European U19 Championship finals in France, having top-scored in qualifying with eight goals. Italian and European titleholders Inter enter the UEFA Champions League in the group stage.