Alou Diarra has not played since being released by West Ham last summer. GettyImages

France international Alou Diarra has joined Charlton Athletic on a contract until the end of the season, the Championship club announced on Monday.

The defensive midfielder has been without a club since leaving West Ham following the end of last season. He went on a preseason trial with MLS side Chicago Fire before signing with Charlton.

Diarra, 33, has earned 44 caps for France and played in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. He has played for a number of Ligue 1 clubs in his career, including Le Havre, Bastia, Lens, Lyon, Bordeux and Marseille, while also going on loan to Rennes before West Ham released him last summer.

"He will add some height, experience, and most of all, quality to the midfield," Charlton coach Guy Luzon told the club's website.

"We lost Milos [Veljkovic] to injury and Johnnie Jackson is out for a month, so he will help us to bring results and more points.

"It's a coup for us that we can attract a player with so much international experience and I'm sure he will be fantastic for us."

Diarra will be available to play on Tuesday at Championship leaders Derby County.