Juventus win race to sign Fiorentina's Melo

Juventus signed Fiorentina's Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo on Wednesday after beating off competition from Arsenal.

Juventus have paid 20.5m euros ($28.80m) plus winger Marco Marchionni for the 26-year-old, the Turin club said in a statement, adding that he has penned a five-year contract.

"I believe a lot in this side. It has been reinforced and can rival any team as we target all the trophies in Italy and Europe," Melo told the Juventus channel.

He recently signed a contract extension with Fiorentina but a 25-million euro escape clause was inserted which Juve have triggered with the cash and player deal.

The Florence club, who only signed the combative midfielder from Spain's Almeria last year, had previously said that Arsenal were best-placed to buy him if the London side's fullback Emmanuel Eboue was included in the transfer.