Real Zaragoza have signed Brazilian international Edmilson from Palmeiras until the end of the season, with the option of keeping him for a further year, the Spanish club said on Monday.

The 33-year-old defensive midfielder is no stranger to La Liga, having played for European champions Barcelona for four seasons and then spent six months at Villarreal, before returning to Brazil with Palmeiras last year.

Edmilson has Italian as well as Brazilian citizenship so he will not occupy one of the positions reserved for players from outside the European Union, the club added.

He has earned more than 40 caps for Brazil and was part of the Brazilian side that won the World cup in 2002.

The player becomes the seventh new arrival at struggling Zaragoza since the start of the month, following defender Matteo Contini, goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez, strikers Adrian Colunga and Humberto Suazo, and midfielders Jiri Jarosik and Eliseu.

Zaragoza climbed one place to 18th in the table on Sunday after defeating minnows Tenerife 3-1.