The former Arsenal and Real Madrid star will be the biggest name to appear in China’s Super League, which is growing in stature despite significant corruption problems that have left several officials facing jail.
“We have basically agreed on the details of the contract, but there are small details that we still need to confirm tonight,” club spokesman Ma Yue told AFP.
He added that the 32-year-old Frenchman would start playing for the team in January if all the fine details were ironed out, but was unable to reveal any details of the deal, adding a formal announcement would be made on Monday.
Chinese media quoted a report by sports network ESPN saying Anelka had agreed a two-year deal with Shenhua for a weekly salary of £200,000 ($313,000), reportedly a marked rise from his £90,000 per week at Chelsea.
Sina’s weibo, China’s most popular Twitter-like service, was awash with comments about Anelka’s imminent arrival.
While they welcomed the move, many netizens focused on the ESPN report about his weekly salary, in a country where the average disposable monthly income for urban dwellers is just 1,592 yuan ($251).
Shanghai Shenua, 11th in the Chinese league last season, is the latest stop on Anelka’s nomadic career, with spells also at Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers and Turkey’s Fenerbahce.