Fiorentina on Monday announced the loan signing of forward Alberto Gilardino from Chinese club Guangzhou Evergreen.

Gilardino, who scored 59 goals in 143 appearances for Fiorentina in a four-year spell from 2008-2012, has penned a deal until the end of the current campaign with an option to buy, said the Serie A side.

"ACF Fiorentina is delighted to announce that Alberto Gilardino has joined the club on a loan arrangement from Guangzhou Evergrande Football Club until June 2015," Fiorentina said in a statement.

"The deal includes an option for Fiorentina to make the transfer permanent."

Gilardino, a World Cup-winner with Italy in 2006, has scored 19 goals in 57 appearances for the Azzurri but the 33-year-old has fallen out of favour with the national team.

Fiorentina held Roma to a 1-1 draw in Florence on Sunday to dent the Giallorossi's Serie A title chances.

Roma remain second but are now seven points behind leaders and champions Juventus. Fiorentina remain sixth, three points behind third-placed Lazio and 18 behind Juventus.