Argentine striker Carlos Tevez meets with press in Shanghai on Jan 21, 2017. [Photo/IC]

The striker has appeared in two World Cups for Argentina and previously played for Manchester United, Manchester City and West Ham United in the English Premier League, as well as Italy's Juventus.

Tevez moved last year to Boca Juniors, the club where he began his senior career, after helping Juventus win its fourth consecutive Serie A title. But he was quoted in the Argentine press this year saying that he was unhappy and even contemplating retirement.

Chinese clubs, which broke the Asian transfer record several times in 2016, have been busy reinforcing their rosters ahead of the start of the next season in March.

In a bid to rein in spending and develop homegrown talent, the Chinese soccer association recently demanded that clubs allocate at least 15 percent of yearly spending toward youth training. It also suggested it would impose a salary cap and perform financial audits of clubs.