Chinese Super League (CSL) champions Guangzhou Evergrande have signed with Atletico Madrid striker Jackson Martinez on a four-year contract for a fee of 42 million euros, which set a new transfer fee record in CSL, the club announced Wednesday on its website.
It was the most expensive transfer during the winter transfer window in the world.
The Colombia striker, who has become the latest of a batch of world top players to move to the Chinese Super League, will join the reigning Asian Champions League champions in Dubai on Feb. 9 for winter training after he passes the medical check later.
Martinez, 29, moved to Atletico last July for around 35 million euros but has failed to settle at the Vicente Calderon, scoring two goals from 15 league appearances for Diego Simeone’s side.
Yet that has not stopped Guangzhou, who are managed by former Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, from shelling out a massive fee to add him to a squad that already contains the Brazil international Paulinho, once of Tottenham Hotspur.
China’s transfer window remains open until February 26 and with Jiangsu Suning having already signed Ramires from Chelsea for 25 million pounds, there could be more deals to come.