Updated

New Jersey-born forward Giuseppe Rossi, sidelined by a knee injury for more than 14 months, has transferred from Spain's Villarreal to Fiorentina.

Rossi signed four-year deal worth slightly more than 2 million euros ($2.6 million) per season, according to Fiorentina. The club reportedly paid a 9.5 million euro ($12.45 million) transfer fee to Villarreal.

The 25-year-old, born to Italian parents in Teaneck and raised in Clifton, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a game against Real Madrid on Oct. 26, 2011. He underwent surgery a day later, then tore the same ACL again during training on April 13. Richard Steadman operated on April 20, determining a third operation was necessary, and that procedure took place Oct. 3.

Rossi is expected to resume playing in March.

He had been with Villarreal since 2007 after starting his professional career with Manchester United, where he made 14 appearances during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.

The transfer was announced Friday.