Spanish international midfielder Mario Suarez has joined Watford from Italian side Fiorentina on a four-and-a-half-year deal, the Premier League club announced on Saturday.

Capped three times by Spain, the 28-year-old former Atletico Madrid player has signed for an undisclosed fee reported to be around £4 million ($5.7 million, 5.3 million euros).

"I'm very happy and very excited to be a Hornet," Suarez said, referencing Watford's nickname, in a video message to fans on the club website.

"I hope we live very good moments together and I'll see you at Vicarage Road."

Watford, currently 10th in the Premier League, announced Suarez's arrival shortly after their 1-0 win at second-tier Nottingham Forest in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Suarez started his career with Atletico and spent time on loan at Real Valladolid and Celta Vigo before joining Real Mallorca on a permanent basis in 2008.

He returned to Atletico two years later and remained for five years, acquiring La Liga, Europa League and Copa del Rey winners' medals and helping the club reach the 2014 Champions League final.

His time at the Vicente Calderon coincided with a season under current Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores.

He joined Fiorentina in July last year and had made 13 appearances this season, scoring once.