Strange one this. I think he still has plenty to offer at the highest level.
Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua say Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has agreed to join them.
The 32-year-old's advisors have been in talks with the club, who are also expected to recruit former France midfielder Jean Tigana as manager.
Shanghai spokesman Ma Yue did not reveal the fee but said Anelka could start playing in January "if all contract details are 100% confirmed".
Anelka was Avram Grant's first signing at Stamford Bridge in January 2008.
The French striker joined in a £15m switch from Bolton and has scored 59 goals in 185 appearances for the London club.
But he has fallen out of the first-team picture having scored only once in 15 games this season, with manager Andre Villas-Boas favouring Didier Drogba, Daniel Sturridge and Fernando Torres.
Anelka and Chelsea team-mate Alex were told by Villas-Boas last week they will no longer train with the first-team squad after handing in transfer requests.
The striker would be a free agent next summer, allowing him to sign a pre-contract agreement with a club from January.
The Chinese club was previously called Shanghai Football Club but, in 1993, was re-organised and became a professional football club. Since then, they have won two titles but finished 11th out of 16 teams last season.
In May, Chelsea hired the agency ECN Management to market high-profile players in China and raise their global profile.
The 32-year-old's advisors have been in talks with the club, who are also expected to recruit former France midfielder Jean Tigana as manager.
Shanghai spokesman Ma Yue did not reveal the fee but said Anelka could start playing in January "if all contract details are 100% confirmed".
Anelka was Avram Grant's first signing at Stamford Bridge in January 2008.
The French striker joined in a £15m switch from Bolton and has scored 59 goals in 185 appearances for the London club.
But he has fallen out of the first-team picture having scored only once in 15 games this season, with manager Andre Villas-Boas favouring Didier Drogba, Daniel Sturridge and Fernando Torres.
Anelka and Chelsea team-mate Alex were told by Villas-Boas last week they will no longer train with the first-team squad after handing in transfer requests.
The striker would be a free agent next summer, allowing him to sign a pre-contract agreement with a club from January.
The Chinese club was previously called Shanghai Football Club but, in 1993, was re-organised and became a professional football club. Since then, they have won two titles but finished 11th out of 16 teams last season.
In May, Chelsea hired the agency ECN Management to market high-profile players in China and raise their global profile.
Comment