Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba has signed a two and a half year deal with Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, where he will again be paired with former Chelsea teammate Nicolas Anelka and, according to reports, be paid 200,000 pounds ($314,000) per week.

Shanghai Shenhua posted a picture of Drogba, 34, wearing the team's blue shirt -- similar to Chelsea's -- and confirmed the deal in a brief statement. Alongside Anelka, who joined Shenhua in January, Drogba adds prestige to the Chinese league, which has shrugged off years of corruption scandals with a spending spree on coaches and players.

Reigning champion Guangzhou Evergrande is spearheaded by imported South American talent, and they pulled off a coup by snaring the services of World Cup-winning Italian coach Marcello Lippi in May. Shenhua, bankrolled by video-game tycoon Zhu Jun, is in 12th place in the 16-team league and has won just three of 13 matches.