West Ham United announce sale of Argentine Zarate to ACF Fiorentina

Zarate has joined Fiorentina from West Ham United.

English football club West Ham United has announced that Argentine forward Mauro Zarate has joined Italian side Fiorentina on a permanent transfer.

"West Ham United can confirm that forward Mauro Zarate has joined ACF Fiorentina on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee," West Ham said in a statement on Friday.

The 28-year-old joined the Hammers from Buenos Aires-based Velez Sarsfield 18 months ago, when he featured in 29 games and scored seven goals with the English club.

In January 2015, the Argentinian forward moved to Queens Park Rangers on loan. Now he is returning to Serie A where he previously played for Lazio and Inter Milan.

Zarate, who moved to Fiorentina for some 2.1 million euros (about $2.27 million), tweeted on his official website, thanking the English club's owners, fans and teammates for supporting him at West Ham.