RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 12 -- Corinthians defender Paulo Andre has accepted an offer to join Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua on a free transfer.

In a press conference at Corinthians' Sao Paulo base on Wednesday, the 30-year-old admitted the offer was too good to refuse.

"The proposal came on Monday. Everything happened so quickly," Andre said.

"There were other proposals in previous years but this time I decided to accept. I asked to leave because the proposal was very good. It's the end of a cycle."

Andre joined Corinthians in 2009 and was part of the club's 2011 Brazilian league triumph as well as the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup victory over Chelsea.

He missed the team's Copa Libertadores success the same year due to injury.