Palermo signs Alberto Gilardino from Guangzhou Evergrande

Palermo announced Thursday the signing of veteran Italian striker Alberto Gilardino from Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande.

Gilardino will arrive in the Sicilian capital Friday and be presented to fans and media early next week, according to a statement on Palermo's official website.

He was on loan at Fiorentina for the second half of the 2014-15 season, but the Tuscan club didn't pick up its option to make the deal permanent. Gilardino spent only a few months in China, scoring five goals in 14 league matches.

The 33-year-old has scored 178 goals in Serie A, good for 12th on the all-time list. He also won a World Cup with Italy in 2006.

Palermo needed reinforcements up front after selling forwards Paulo Dybala and Andrea Belotti to Juventus and Torino, respectively.