The 2015 Vuelta a Espana winner Fabio Aru on Thursday joined South Africa's only elite World Tour team, Qhubeka Assos, formerly NTT.
Aru, 30, has raced for the UAE Emirates team since 2018, with his most successful spell coming before that with Astana.
The Italian, a climbing specialist, is hoping the move will reignite his career.
"Over the past few years I haven't enjoyed the success I was hoping for," said the Sardinian-born rider.
He is the latest new recruit snapped up by Qhubeka Assos who have announced recently the arrival of Australian Simon Clarke, Belgian Dimitri Claeys, Swiss rider Kilian Frankiny and Pole Lukasz Wisniowski.
??DONE DEAL??
— NTT Pro Cycling (@NTTProCycling) December 3, 2020
We are thrilled to confirm that former @lavuelta champion @FabioAru1 will join Team Qhubeka ASSOS.
"I immediately felt that this was an environment that I wanted to be a part of"
??Read more: https://t.co/nattIUk8Dz#BicyclesChangeLives@assos_com @GettySport pic.twitter.com/cCHCWsLebO