Australia international, Tim Cahill has joined Shanghai Shenhua after the New York Red Bull announced he had left the club by mutual consent.
The 35-year-old joined the Major League Soccer club in July 2012 following an 8-year spell with English outfit Everton. His contract was due to run until the end of the 2015 American soccer season, but the Red Bull confirmed his departure on Monday.
The Socceroos forward, who scored three goals during their successful AFC Asian Cup campaign, said he was attracted by the scale of potential football market in China.
“I’ve done the Premier League, I’ve done America. New York was amazing for me … (but) China is a growing market in football,” said Cahill. “You see in the (Asian Cup quarter-final) game that we played against China, millions of people watched it and I’m someone who is embracing culture and a different aspect of life.
“I am at the age where I want to give something back to football and still play at a high level. I think it’s exciting. To still be in demand and have the offers I’ve had is special but this will be massive for me as a player on and off the park.”
Didier Drogba and Nicholas Anelka are previous big-name signings by Shanghai Shenhua in recent years.
Cahill is Australia’s all-time leading scorer with 39 goals in 82 appearances.
