Roma defender Jose Holebas has, as expected, joined Watford for an initial £1.8 million on a three-year deal.

A further £360,000 would be payable to the Italian side subject to certain criteria being met by the Hornets.

The 31-year-old German-born Greek international is comfortable at left-back or on the left-hand side of midfield. He becomes Watford’s fourth summer signing.

Holebas joined the Giallorossi in August and made 24 Serie A appearances for Rudi Garcia's side, who finished runners-up to Juventus in Italy's top flight.

Born in Aschaffenburg, Germany, Holebas was also eligible to represent Greece or Uruguay owing to his heritage and neglected to play international football at youth level.

However, he chose to represent Greece - the country of his father's birth - at senior level and has won 27 caps to date.

Holebas began his professional career with sixth tier side Viktoria Kahl in 2005 and after just one season with the club joined TSV Munchen and was immediately installed in the club's second string.

In four years with the Munich side, partially spent with the second team, Holebas featured regularly in 2.Bundesliga and upon leaving for Olympiacos in 2010 said: "I'll forever be grateful to 1860 Munich." As boy, Holebas had supported city rivals Bayern Munich.

His switch to Greece afforded Holebas the opportunity to play in the Champions League and Europa League and during his four-year stay with the Greek giants, he picked up four Greek Super League winner's medals and twice clinched the Greek Cup.

Signed by Roma last summer for just over £700,000, he made 34 appearances in all competitions and kept former Arsenal and Chelsea man Ashley Cole out the team for much of the campaign.