Alquilani pens three-year deal with Primeira Liga giants Sporting

Sporting Lisbon have completed the signing of former Fiorentina midfielder Alberto Aquilani on a free transfer. Aquilani, an Italy international, had been without a club since his contract in Florence came to an end in June and was reportedly in talks with several other sides before Sporting moved quickly to snap him up.

Aquilani pens three-year @SportingCP_en deal #Portugal https://t.co/x6o4ZcIh7t pic.twitter.com/qfjNofG6BM

— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) August 7, 2015

Sporting had previously been keen on former Schalke star Kevin-Prince Boateng until his image rights proved a stumbling block on Wednesday, but no such problems arose with Aquilani, who joins on a three-year deal with a €45 million release clause.

Aquilani came through the ranks at Roma before going on to play for Liverpool, Juventus, AC Milan and most recently Fiorentina, and he becomes Sporting's ninth signing of the close-season.

Earlier this summer, the 30-year-old revealed he is hoping to do enough in 2015-16 to force a way into Italy's Euro 2016 party. "I need a club that believes in me, gets me involved and gives me satisfaction," he said to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"But I'm convinced that if I find the right situation, I could still play my way into contention for Euro 2016. [Italy boss] Antonio Conte and I have a mutual respect, so why shouldn't I still believe in this?"