QPR have signed former Italian international midfielder Damiano Tommasi.

The 34 year-old has put pen to paper on a deal until the end of the 2008/09 campaign, after his release from Spanish side Levante.

Tomassi is almost certain to be a stop-gap for Ben Watson at Crystal Palace whom Rangers were unable to sign before the transfer window closed last week.

 “The signing of Damiano adds great experience to the squad,” manager Iain Dowie told the club's website.

 "He’ll compliment what Gavin Mahon and Martin Rowlands provide in that area.

"He has played at the highest level for club and country and to have a player of that calibre available can only be good for QPR.

 “In the short term, he could prove to be very useful to us.”

A player with outstanding experience, Tommasi began his career at Serie B side Hellas Verona, before moving to AS Roma, for whom he won the Scudetto Championship in 2001.

The combative central midfielder has made 25 starts for Italy and played in all four of his country's matches in the 2002 World Cup.