Latta (23) said it was a great chance to get over to England and play a good standard of rugby.
He will join a host of other New Zealanders at the club.
The Zingari-Richmond lock has signed a two-year deal with the Premiership club and qualifies as a local player as his grandmother on his mother's side is English.
''The opportunity came up with them and it really was too good to turn down,'' he said.
''I'm young enough to go over there and play and enjoy my time over there and come back if I want to. I'm going to miss things, for sure. Going back to the farm and all that. But it was a great chance that I couldn't turn down.''
Latta played eight games for Otago last year but his season with the side was ruined this year after he suffered a stress fracture in his fibula and could not play a single game this season.
He has been injury-free for the past month and is ready to play for Gloucester when he arrives at the weekend.
Latta played for the Highlanders this season and was a member of the wider training group.
He was offered the same contract for the coming season but decided to head overseas instead.
The wider training squad contract would not have helped his chances of playing or picking up deals with other teams, he said.
Former All Black Jeremy Thrush has just joined Gloucester, along with former Crusaders halfback Willi Heinz, former Chiefs fullback Tom Marshall and former All Black prop John Afoa.
The side sits ninth in the 12-strong Premiership although the season has only just started.
Meanwhile, Otago utility back Michael Collins made his first appearance for the Llanelli Scarlets over the weekend.
Collins, who has joined the Welsh side as injury cover for the season, came off the bench in a 19-15 loss to Leinster.
Another Otago forward playing overseas is prop Scott Manson.
Manson has headed to Spain to play club rugby for Santboiana. He will join Taieri first five-eighth Josh Casey, who is playing for the same club.
