The 31-year-old, whose $43million move from Sao Paulo to Real Betis in 1998 made him the world's most expensive player, is set to make his debut for against SHB Da Nang on Saturday after agreeing a deal for play for the second half of V-League season.

Hai Phong are currently in seventh place in the V-League and Denilson, who took part in his first training session with the northern city team at Lach Tray Stadium on Monday, has agreed a contract to play for the remaining 13 games.

"I am very surprised to be so warmly welcomed here in Hai Phong. I didn't know anything about Vietnamese football before, but now I do," Denilson told Thanh Nien.

After leaving Sao Paulo, the 2002 World Cup winner had short spells with France's Bordeaux, in America with FC Dallas and the Middle East with Riyadh's Al Nasr in 2006/07 before returning to Brazil to play for Palmeiras and Itumbiara.

He then spent time on trial in England with Bolton earlier this year and was strongly linked with Perth Glory before opting to move to Vietnam.