Watford have completed the permanent signing of Fiorentina striker Mauro Zarate.

The Hornets have agreed a two-and-a-half year deal with the former West Ham United forward. 

Zarate, 29, has returned to England after previous spells with the Hammers, QPR and Birmingham City.

The Argentine forward was popular with supporters at West Ham but failed to secure a regular place in the side under Sam Allardyce or Slaven Bilic.

Zarate scored seven goals in 29 matches for the Hammers after joining the club in 2014.

He also had a short loan spell at QPR in 2015 making four appearances.

Zarate's first stint in English football came at Birmingham City where he scored four goals in 14 appearances nine years ago.

The attacker featured nine times for Fiorentina this season scoring four goals.

The unpredictable forward still has two matches of a suspension left, following a red card for Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia this month, which means he will not be able to make his debut until the Burnley home match a week on Saturday.

Zarate, who has been given squad number 20, is the second arrival this month after the signing of Tom Cleverley.

It means head coach Walter Mazzarri faces a selection headache with only 17 foreign players allowed in his updated Premier League squad next month.