Diamanti helped Livorno back into Serie A last season

West Ham have signed Livorno striker Alessandro Diamanti for an undisclosed fee on a five-year contract.

Diamanti, 26, scored 18 goals in 37 league and cup matches last season as Livorno were promoted to Serie A.

Diamanti said he was looking forward to linking up with Hammers boss and fellow Italian Gianfranco Zola.

"I am very happy to be at West Ham. This is a big club and I want to give everything for the supporters," he told West Ham's official website.

"I chose West Ham because the club have the tradition of playing great football. Also, because the West Ham fans are really passionate and that is the way I am."

Zola is desperately short of strikers, with Carlton Cole the only fit centre forward in the first-team squad, and the Hammers had been strongly linked with a move for Diamanti after failing to land Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh.

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