BEIJING -- NBA free agent Jeremy Lin has signed a contract with the Beijing Shougang Ducks to play in the new Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) season, the club said on Tuesday.

The former NBA champion will play for the Beijing side in the upcoming new season after his registration files are officially approved by the association, according to the club.

"Jeremy Lin can still compete in the NBA or other European teams, but he chooses to join us. It shows his confidence in us and is an honor. We sincerely welcome him and believe he will lead our team to progress," said Ducks club chairman Qin Xiaowen.

The 31-year-old had expressed publicly that he was open to moving to the CBA, and he was reportedly offered $3 million per year in the contract.

Jeremy Lin logged 11.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists in his NBA career. The Harvard graduate became a global sensation in 2012 during his time with the New York Knicks, in a period he was dubbed "Linsanity". He became the first Asian-American to win an NBA title last season with the Toronto Raptors.