Aquilani makes Viola move

Fiorentina co-owner Andrea Delle Valle has announced the signing of Alberto Aquilani from Liverpool on a three-year deal.

Reports in the Italian morning newspapers had suggested a deal had been thrashed out overnight that would see the 28-year-old end his unhappy spell on Merseyside in which he made just 23 appearances for the Reds. But Delle Valle, the billionaire Italian businessman who part controls the Florence club, today told Sky Sport 24: "Aquilani is ours." Details of the deal are unclear at the moment but it had been claimed that Liverpool were willing to pay part of Aquilani's wages to get him off their books. The move will see the ex-Roma star, signed by Rafael Benitez in 2009 for £20million as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, start his third straight season in Serie A after two loan spells at Juventus and AC Milan.