Yuning Zhang's reputation as 'China's David Beckham' has convinced the Queensland Roar to punt on the international striker for the A-League season.

The Roar announced Zhang's signing for the 2006-07 A-League season on Tuesday after inviting him to train with the club for a week.

The 29-year-old, who enjoys film-star status in his homeland, opted to sign after being encouraged by Adelaide United's Chinese success story Shengqing Qu.

Roar coach Miron Bleiberg conceded he hadn't seen enough in the 29-year-old's play to know his skill matched his reputation but was persuaded by the club's intelligence.

Zhang and Qu played together for China, with Zhang scoring nine goals in 15 appearances.

"From what I understand he was the bigger name than Qu and had more appearances in the national team," Bleiberg said.

"We have to admit if it wasn't for the experience of Qu maybe it perhaps wouldn't have been an easy decision.

"Based on the Qu-Adelaide experience we realised we were probably going for a good deal."

The news of Zhang's signing from Shenhua Shanghai, after the Roar worked around the clock to finalise it before Monday's transfer deadline, made headlines all around China.

It seems the tall striker's off-field reputation has fuelled comparisons with headline-grabbing England skipper Beckham more than his goal-scoring.

"He's a good looking guy and was a bit of a womaniser but now apparently he's going to get married in October, so maybe these days are over," said Bleiberg.

Speaking through an interpreter on Tuesday before flying home to finalise his affairs, Zhang said it was former teammate Qu who convinced him to take up the Roar offer.

"I didn't know too much about the Hyundai A-League until I spoke to my friend Shengqing Qu who was at Adelaide United last season," he said.

"He said that it is a good league and encouraged me to consider it.

"From what I have seen at training the standard of play is very high."

Qu, the A-League's find of 2005-06, arrived back at the Reds last week after initially deciding to return to China due to homesickness.

Bleiberg is desperate to have Zhang back in the country next week so he can play in what could be a pre-season cup semi-final if the Roar upset the in-form Central Coast in Toowoomba on Sunday.

Queensland is yet to win a match, largely due to an impotent forward line that is lacking star signings Simon Lynch and Reinaldo da Costa, while Ante Milicic is being rested.

"I've got a formidable forward line but can't use any of them," Bleiberg said.

"We're playing with a bit iffy forward line and you can see the results."

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