Persib Bandung management member Teddy Tjahyono has shed light on the reason behind the acquisition of Ghana international Michael Essien.
The 34-year-old has signed a one-year deal with the option for an extension with the Indonesian club, following his departure from Greek outfit Panathinaikos.
"The reason to bring Michael Essien is in order to increase the value of competition in Indonesia," Tjahyono told the club's official website.
"[This will also help in] opening the door to the other world players to strengthen the teams in Indonesia.
"The process to bring in players to this part of the world is quite difficult. It took months to negotiate."
Essien has played for top European clubs including Spanish giants Real Madrid, Italian outfit AC Milan, French club Lyon and Chelsea, with whom he won two English Premier League titles in 2005-06 and 2009-10, and the Uefa Champions League in 2012.
He first played for Bastia in France after leaving Ghanaian outfit Liberty Professionals.
The Accra-born represented Ghana at the 2002, 2008 and 2010 Africa Cup of Nations as well as the 2006 and 2014 Fifa World Cup tournaments.
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