Controversial Italian international striker Dani Osvaldo has joined FC Porto on a one-year deal, the Portuguese club announced on social media on Wednesday.

Argentine-born Osvaldo, 29, a free agent, was released by English Premier League club Southampton last month, despite the club's record signing having two years left on his contract.

Signed from Roma for a reported £15 million (21.5 million euros, $23.5 million) in 2013, Osvaldo turned out to be a big flop in England, scoring just three goals in 14 Premier League games before being suspended and loaned out to Juventus after allegedly head-butting Portuguese team-mate Jose Fonte during a training session.

But the Italian champions did not take up the option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season and Osvaldo moved on, first to Inter Milan and then to Boca Juniors, but when he reported back to Southampton, he was told there was no place for him in manager Ronald Koeman's plans.

Capped 14 times for Italy, Osvaldo arrives at Porto as a replacement for Colombian Jackson Martinez, whop has joined Atletico Madrid.

Osvaldo has signed a one-year contract with the option to extend it to three. The much-travelled forward has never spent more than two seasons at any of the 12 clubs he has turned out for so far in his career.