Hulk completes £46m move to Shanghai SIPG to become most expensive signing in Asian football history

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Shanghai SIPG have completed the £46.5m capture of striker Hulk from Zenit St Petersburg to make him the most expensive signing in Asian football.

Former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson announced the signing set a new transfer record, topping the £42m Jiangsu Suning paid this year for Brazilian Alex Teixeira and the £35m Guangzhou Evergrande paid for Colombia's Jackson Martinez. 

The likes of Ezequiel Lavezzi and Ramires have been recruited from European clubs in recent seasons and that trend looks to continue, given the increased spending power in China. 

Hulk gives the thumbs up as he goes through his medical ahead of his big money move to Shanghai SIPG

The Brazil striker takes a picture with a nurse and is now the most expensive signing in Asian football

No stranger to the Far East, Hulk previously played for three Japanese sides, before he moved to Porto - where after four seasons, left for Russia in 2012 and plundered 75 goals in 144 games for Zenit, winning the Russian Premier League, Russian Cup and Russian Super Cup.

Greeted by hundreds of fans at Shanghai's airport, Hulk passed a medical examination at a Shanghai clinic on Wednesday and will reportedly be paid $17m annually, double what national colleague Neymar earns at Barcelona. 

Currently fourth in the table - 12 points behind league leaders Guangzhou, Hulk will team up with former Sunderland and Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan at Shanghai. 

Israeli star Eran Zahavi has completed his move from Maccabi Tel Aviv to Guangzhou R&F for £6m. 

Hulk was all smiles with the fans as he arrived in Shanghai ahead of his big-money move from Zenit

After leaving Porto, Hulk moved to Zenit in 2012 and scored 75 goals in 144 games during his four seasons

Israeli star Eran Zahavi (right) has completed his move from Maccabi Tel Aviv to Guangzhou R&F