Updated

AC Milan confirmed the signing of defender Cristian Zapata on a permanent basis on Friday.

Zapata spent the past season on loan at the San Siro from Villarreal, and Milan has decided to exercise its option to bring the Colombian into the fold on a permanent basis.

The 26-year-old appeared in 23 games for the Rossoneri this term and has signed a contract with Milan that runs through the 2015-16 campaign.

Zapata started his career with Deportivo Cali in Colombia before moving to Udinese for six seasons and then on Villarreal in 2011.