Brazil international Hulk was signed up by Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG from Zenit St Petersburg on Thursday for a fee of £46.1 million (55.8 million euros), the biggest in Asian football transfer history. Hulk, 29, was a part of Selecao in the recently-concluded Copa America Centenario.
The transfer broke the existing record of £38.4 million that Chinese side Jiangsu Suning paid for another Brazilian Alex Teixeira in February this year.
Hulk, who scored 74 goals in 147 appearances for Zenit and 78 goals in 169 appearances for Porto earlier, has agreed to an annual salary of €12.5 million before bonuses, reports ESPN. "Hulk has undergone medical examination and the club has just signed the contract with him," Shanghai SIPG said in a statement.
The Chinese Super League sides are reaching astronomical figures with the fee while signing star names. Former Arsenal forward Gervinho, former Atletico Madrid forward Jackson Martinez, former Chelsea midfielder Ramires, former Newcastle striker Demba Ba and Argentina international Ezequiel Lavezzi are also plying their trade in the league.
The total figure, as quoted by the BBC, has skyrocketed to almost £200 million in one transfer window itself.
As per rules, the Chinese clubs can field only three foreign players and one Asian player (from a different AFC nation) on the pitch at any given point in the match.
