KARACHI, Jan 12: British Pakistani football player Zesh Rehman has signed for Hong Kong Champions Kitchee SC on a deal until May 2013.

After a successful first year in Asia with Thai Champions Muang Thong United, which saw Zesh feature in more than 30 games, helping the team reach the final of the FA Cup and quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League, Zesh has headed to a new territory in East Asia.

Ken Ng, Kitchee's President said: 'Kitchee is happy to have secured Zesh as our Asian foreigner for the upcoming AFC Cup competition.

Not only has Zesh played at the highest level in England, he has also demonstrated his leadership and good nature as an individual who shares our values. We believe that he will make a positive impact at Kitchee and in Hong Kong football.

The former Fulham, QPR and Bradford City captain is just as excited to be joining Kitchee and helping to further raise the profile of the club. Zesh said: 'I am looking forward to getting started and taking up this new challenge. Kitchee play a very good style of football. They put in decent performance against both Chelsea and Blackburn last year.

'After meeting the directors and owners of the club, I was impressed with their ambition and determination to take the club up a level. I want to play my part in helping Kitchee improve, raise the profile of the club and further progress in the AFC Cup.

Zesh's move to Muang Thong United in January 2011 made him the first ex-Premier League player to play in Thailand, which also helped to attract former Liverpool FC front man and current Muang Thong manager Robbie Fowler.

Zesh, 28, continued: 'Thailand was a great experience and all the players, management and fans were great to me till the day I left. Robbie's arrival was great for me personally as I learnt a lot from him and Pm sure he will continue to improve the team.

'I had some very good offers in other parts of Asia and Europe but all my attention now turns to Kitchee. As a player Pm still yet to reach my peak and I want to continue developing as a player and person,' the player said.