Ex-Guangzhou attacker Goulart joins Bahia

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Former Guangzhou FC and Brazil international playmaker Ricardo Goulart has joined Bahia for the second half of the Brazilian Serie B season, the club said on Monday.

Goulart, 31, arrives as a free agent after his contract with Santos was terminated by mutual consent in July.

"He is a player with a lot of quality and he's used to winning," Bahia football director Eduardo Freeland said in a video posted on the club's social media accounts.

"We made a big effort to bring him and he was willing to adapt to our financial reality. It's a signing that makes us very happy."

Goulart made 30 appearances across all competitions during his six-month spell with Santos, scoring four goals and providing three assists.

But after an impressive start to his time at the Vila Belmiro, the attacking midfielder fell out of favor under manager Fabian Bustos and lost his status as a regular starter.

For Guangzhou, Goulart scored 110 goals in 174 matches and helped the club to three Chinese Super League titles as well as an Asian Champions League trophy.