China's Jiangsu Suning signs Alex Teixeira for record $56 million

(CNN) The record transfer fee set by a Chinese football club earlier this week has already been broken.

Jiangsu Suning will pay around $56 million for Brazilian striker Alex Teixeira, currently with Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk.

That's $10 million more than leading club Guangzhou Evergrande paid to sign Atletico Madrid striker Jackson Martinez earlier this week -- and a new record price for the burgeoning Chinese Super League (CSL).

Shakhtar has "agreed on all the necessary formalities for the transfer of Alex Teixeira to the Chinese club," it said in a statement.

The striker is expected to join Jiangsu, coached by former Chelsea defender Dan Petrescu, in time for the start of the new CSL season in March. He will team up with compatriot Ramires, who signed for $36 million last month.

Big spenders

Teixeira's arrival is the latest in a series of big moves by Chinese clubs, which have been spending lavishly as they add to their squads following the closure of Europe's transfer window on Monday.

Chinese clubs, which forked out nearly $150 million before the end of January, can sign players until February 26.

Signing foreigners is nothing new for China's clubs, which have been operating under a 4+1 policy (four internationals plus one Asian Football Confederation player) since the league was formed 12 years ago.

In the past, foreign players to have arrived in China have largely been either untested youngsters or experienced players past their prime such as former Chelsea star Didier Drogba, who had an underwhelming season at Shanghai Shenhua before departing for Turkey.

Now however, European sides are increasingly finding themselves outbid for top talent by Chinese clubs. Liverpool had attempted to sign Teixeira, only for the Ukrainian side turn down their reported offer of $50 million and accept more from Jiangsu.