Nicolas Anelka To Join Shanghai Shenhua 阿内尔卡将加盟申花

Nicolas Anelka holding a Jersey of the Shenhua club

Striker Nicolas Anelka will join Shanghai Shenhua in January on a two-year contract after the Chinese club agreed a deal 同意合约 with Chelsea.

A statement on Chelsea's website says "Chelsea Football Club and Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua have agreed terms 确认了签约条款 for the permanent transfer of Nicolas Anelka in the January transfer window 转会窗口。"

The 32-year-old was former manager Avram Grant's first signing 签约 at Stamford Bridge in January 2008 and has scored 59 goals in 185 appearances for the London club.

His contract with Chelsea runs out 到期 in the summer and he had a transfer request 转会申请 accepted last week.

Anelka, who joined Chelsea in a £15m switch 跳槽 from Bolton, has been training apart from the first team 甲级组 since manager Andre Villas-Boas accepted his transfer request.

The Frenchman has scored only one goal in 15 games this season, with Didier Drogba, Daniel Sturridge and Fernando Torres preferred to him in attack.

Football fans have been expressing their opinions about Anelka's move on Twitter. Viv Powers said "Shame to see Nicolas Anelka leaving the Premier League. He's graced us with his talent over the years. Hope he finds success in China."

Shanghai Shenhua, who were relegated 降级 two seasons ago for match-fixing, finished 11th out of 16 teams in the Chinese league last season.

They are determined to win the league and have already signed Brazilian forwards Cleo and Muriqui, as well as being linked with 和…有联系 manager Jean Tigana and a host of 一连串 other high-profile players, including Anelka's Chelsea team-mate Didier Drogba.