Guangzhou, June 30 (IANS): Chinese football club Guangzhou Evergrande has signed Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paulinho for 9.8 million pounds, with the Brazilian putting pen to paper on a four-year contract.

Paulinho departs Tottenham as the first big name out of the door as head coach Mauricio Pochettino is reorganising the squad. He will link up with former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari in China, dailymail.co.uk reported on Monday.

Paulinho struggled to make a continued impact on the English Premier League (EPL) since signing for Spurs from Corinthians in a 17 million pounds deal two years ago.

A statement on Guangzhou's official website said: "Guangzhou Hengda Football Club officially announce from Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur that midfielder, Brazilian player Jose Paolo Bethesda La Maher Junior, ie Paulinho, was formally signed, for the transfer fee of 14 million euros (£9.8m), for four years."

Paulinho, 26, has scored five goals in 32 matches for Brazil.

He will link up with former Brazil manager Scolari after the ex-Chelsea manager took over the reins earlier this month on a two-and-a-half year deal.

There is a distinct South American flavour at Evergrande, as Brazil international Ricardo Goulart and countrymen Elkeson and Alan also play for the Super League side.