Brazilian international Ricardo Goulart Pereira has joined Chinese Super League Guangzhou Evergrande on a four-year deal, becoming the most expensive foreign signing in Chinese soccer history, the club said Tuesday.

Defending league champion Evergrande spent 15 million euros ($17.74 million) to secure his move from reigning Brazilian champion Cruzeiro Esporte.

Goulart, 23, the younger brother of Los Angeles Galaxy's Juninho, scored 15 goals in 26 appearances last season. He will join up with the Guangzhou club for pre-season training in Spain on Jan 20.

It is understood Evergrande football director Marcello Lippi was impressed by Goulart during a scouting mission in Brazil last month.

Shandong Luneng's Brazilian coach Cuca knows the 23-year-old from his time in charge of Cruzeiro's rivals Atletico Mineiro from 2011 to 2013.

Goulart has scored 38 goals from 105 matches for Cruzeiro and played a key role in the team's 2013 and 2014 Brazilian Serie A title victories.

He was rewarded by national coach Dunga with an international call up for Brazil's friendlies against Colombia and Ecuador in September.

These years,as the CSL clubs have bigger budget,they started being able to afford more expensive foreign footballers.Especially for Evergrande,they spent 10million and 8.5 million euros on Barrios and Conca.In the new season,Shanghai SIPG and Shandong luneng also has potential to break the record that Evergrande make.

Source:China Daily and Xinhua,Editing by Yutang Sports