MELBOURNE (AFP) - Australian A-League champions Melbourne Victory signed Costa Rican international Carlos Hernandez Tuesday, saying they had beaten several European clubs chasing the midfielder's services.

Victory coach Ernie Merrick said it was a coup for Australian football to sign an up-and-coming player who has scored six goals in 17 appearances for Costa Rica.

Merrick said Hernandez, 25, was instrumental in Costa Rica's qualification for last year's World CUp finals in Germany.

"What we're dealing with here is a player of enormous pedigree who is still yet to reach his prime," he said.

"For Carlos to choose Melbourne Victory over a number of established clubs in Europe is quite a feather in the cap of the A-League."

The attacking midfielder was signed on a two-year loan deal from Costa Rican club LD Alajuelense to directly fill the gap left by Brazilian Fred, who left at the end of last season for US Major League Soccer side DC United.

Melbourne Victory also announced it would play the Chinese national side on July 4 as part of a pre-season tour that also includes a July 7 match against Chinese Super League club Tianjin Teda.