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 record in CSL, the club announced Wednesday on its website.
It was the most expensive transfer during the winter window in the world.
The Colombia striker, who has become the latest of a batch of world top players to move to China, will join the Asian Champions League winners 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, coached by former Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, from shelling out a massive fee to add him to a squad that already contains 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.
Evergrande vowed in the statement that the club will never rest on their laurels and will "start from zero" despite a collection of five CSL titles and three Asian crowns.
The club claimed they adopted a "superstars + wizards" policy while recruiting foreign players.
Evergrande usually call promising stars with specialties as "wizards".
"Superstars raise the international image of the club and advance the team into a world-class one, while those wizards help the club have better financial expectations and reports," said the statement.
"We believe Martinez will create huge chemistry with the superior attacking forces in the team to build an all-around world-class system which is well balanced in front and back, and offense and defence."
