Immobile returns to Italy with Lazio, ending Sevilla stint

Ciro Immobile's brief adventure with Sevilla came to an end Wednesday, as he completed a move to Serie A outfit Lazio for a reported €8.5-million fee.

Immobile, who signed a contract with the Biancoceleste until 2021, will look to rediscover his form after travelling across Europe.

Serie A's top scorer during the 2013-14 campaign with Torino, the 26-year-old decided to try his luck abroad with Borussia Dortmund, signing for around €18 million as a potential substitute for Robert Lewandowski, who departed for Bayern Munich.

But Immobile only managed three league goals for Dortmund, which forced his move to Sevilla - first on loan and then on a permanent transfer.

He couldn't find regular minutes at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, either, and last January returned to Torino in hopes of replicating that 22-goal season.

The Juventus product enjoyed modest success with Il Toro, scoring five times in 14 Serie A appearances.

Torino, however, opted against making the deal permanent.

In came Lazio with another chance. The Stadio Olimpico side had been looking for a striker to replace Miroslav Klose.

Immobile is the club's second signing of a difficult summer following the capture of full-back Jordan Lukaku from KV Oostende.

Prior to that, Marcelo Bielsa had agreed to become Lazio's new manager - only to resign from his position not 48 hours after accepting it. The massive U-turn brought about protests from angry supporters against Lazio president Claudio Lotito.

The Aquile is hoping to build on last season's eighth-place finish in Serie A.