AS Roma have bolstered their midfield ahead of next season's UEFA Champions League campaign with the signing of Fábio Simplício on a free transfer from US Città di Palermo.

The former São Paulo FC player joined Parma FC in 2004 before moving to Sicily two years later, playing 129 league games and scoring 21 goals during his four seasons with Palermo. Capped once by Brazil, the 30-year-old featured in 27 Serie A matches this term, helping the club to a fifth-placed finish.

Having failed to agree a contract extension, Simplício has now signed a three-year deal with Claudio Ranieri's Roma, who are assured of a place in next term's UEFA Champions League group stage having finished second in Serie A, two points adrift of FC Internazionale Milano.