Italian forward Alberto Gilardino celebrates after scoring during a World Cup qualifying football match against Bulgaria in September 2013. Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

The giant of Chinese soccer has attracted another big Italian name. The recently rebranded Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao FC said Friday it signed Alberto Gilardino for €5 million ($6.8 million).

The club, which is champion of China and Asia, said Gilardino has signed a two-and-a-half year contract and will join the team in Guangzhou after completing a medical on Saturday. The club's website carries a picture of the Italian, with the words "Welcome to Guangzhou Alberto Gilardino" along with his number, 38.

Gilardino has played 57 times for Italy, scoring 19 goals. He was part of the Italian squad that won the 2006 World Cup, appearing as a substitute in the semifinal against Germany as well as starting matches earlier in the tournament. He wasn't selected for this year's World Cup in Brazil, where Italy crashed out in the opening round.

In Guangzhou, Gilardino will reunite with Marcello Lippi, the coach of Italy's 2006 World Cup winning team and now head of Guangzhou Evergrande. He will also join compatriot Alessandro Diamanti, who signed for the Chinese club earlier this year. Like Gilardino, Diamanti has played for Italy, scoring the decisive goal to knock England out of Euro 2012 in a penalty shootout. Gilardino moves to China after spending his entire club career in Italy, most recently with Genoa. He joins a team that is leading the charge in revolutionizing soccer in China and Asia. In June, Chinese company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. bought a 50% stake Guangzhou Evergrande for 1.2 billion yuan ($192 million). Alibaba owns online shopping site Taobao, hence the addition to the Guangzhou Evergrande name. The club said it expects Gilardino to enhance its attack and bring technical and tactical expertise to the team. His arrival comes at an opportune time given that Brazilian player Muriqui, Guangzhou Evergrande's top scorer, is reportedly leaving for Qatar after four years with the club. Guangzhou Evergrande's next match is on Tuesday against Guangdong Rizhiquan in the Chinese FA Cup. In the Chinese Super League, Guangzhou Evergrande is top of the table with 35 points from 15 matches. Beijing Guoan is in second place with 31 points and a game in hand. The club from the Chinese capital, like all the others in the region, will find it increasingly difficult to keep up with the Italian infused Guangzhou Evergrande.

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