Argentine star Dario Conca has signed with Shanghai SIPG, the Chinese Super League club said Saturday, in a deal reported to be worth almost $11 million a year.
Shanghai SIPG did not mention the contract length or salary, but a report earlier this week on the Sina Sports news portal said it was worth $10.8 million a year, with other media adding the agreement was for two years.
Conca returns to China after only a year at Brazilian club Fluminense, who he joined following three successful seasons with Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande.
Conca was a pivotal player in Guangzhou’s dominance, scoring 55 goals in 100 appearances.
He is the latest in a series of signings by former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who has been rebuilding Shanghai SIPG since he was appointed coach in November.
The move for the 31-year-old attacking midfielder suggests Eriksson is attempting to replicate the success of former Guangzhou boss Marcello Lippi.
The Italian World Cup winning manager stepped down last year after leading the Guangdong outfit to their fourth successive Chinese title, having guided the team to AFC Champions League glory in 2013.
Reports in England last week said Eriksson had made Newcastle and Senegal striker Papiss Cisse a similar offer to join Shanghai.
Earlier this month the well-travelled coach signed Brazilian Davi from Guangzhou Evergrande and South Korean international Kim Ju-Young from Seoul FC.
Shanghai SIPG — who were previously called Shanghai East Asia but renamed in November by owners Shanghai International Port Group — finished fifth in the CSL last season.
The Chinese football season traditionally runs from March to November.