The 34-year-old signed a two-year contract worth 2.5 million euros (S$5.09 million) with the Qatari club on Wednesday, making Al Gharafa his fourth club after stints with Recife and Vasco da Gama in his native Brazil before he moved to France in 2001.

One of the most feared free-kick takers in modern soccer, Juninho represented Brazil 40 times and played at the 2006 World Cup.

Al Gharafa official Mahmoud Al Ghazal said Juninho's talent and experience would help his team retain the league title and launch a serious assault on next season's Asian Champions League. -- REUTERS