SHANGHAI ¨C Shanghai Shenhua have reinforced their side after reaching the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League by signing former German international striker Carsten Jancker.

It was revealed on Thursday that the 31-year-old giant forward had joined the China Super League side on a one-year contract and could play for them as early as this weekend when Shenhua face defending league champions Dalian Shide.

The unmistakable Jancker, who shaven-headed figure stands at 1.94 metres tall, represented his country at the last two World Cups and Euro 2000 and also played for German giants Bayern Munich when they won the European Champions League in 2001.

After leaving Bayern in 2002, he had a two-year spell at Italian side Udinese before joining Kaiserslautern in 2004. Unfortunately for Jancker, his 2005/06 season was disrupted by injury and he played on only five matches for Kaiserslautern as they were relegated from the Bundesliga.

"I want to come to China to taste a new environment," said Jancker to the Chinese media. "There were three or four clubs in Europe interested in me but I wanted to come to Shanghai to take a look."

Jancker takes the place of Honduran striker Luis Ramirez, who has been a disappointment since Shenhua at the start of the season following the departure of compatriot Saul Martinez. The team has only managed four wins in 12 league games and are 10 points adrift of leaders Shandong Luneng.

They reached the last eight of the AFC Champions League after defeating Dong Tam Long An 4-2 in Vietnam a fortnight ago to finish top of Group G.