Ahn Jung-hwan, one of South Korea's star football players, will sign with China's Dalian Shide this week, his agent said Friday.

Ahn is expected to play at an opening game on March 23 and announce his contract with Chinese team, according to his agency.

Under his contract terms, he will play until the end of October this year at a payment of 300,000 U.S. dollars, plus additional bonuses, the agency said.

The Chinese club agreed to release him unconditionally if he receives a contract offer from other clubs, the agency added.

Ahn, who became famous for his three goals in the 2002 and 2006World Cups, was titled the best player in the Korean League in 1999 and has played in several overseas clubs, including AC Perugiof Italy, FC Metz of France and MSV Duisburg of Germany.

Ahn has been a free agent since his contract with South Korea's Busan I-Park expired last year and has been looking for an overseas new team.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2009)