The 28-year-old has opted to leave the Chinese Super League, having struggled for game-time in 2017.

Giannou made only seven league appearances for Guangzhou R&F, netting two goals in the 2017 season.

The Greece-born five-time Socceroo admitted he had other options, with Central Coast linked up with him, but opted to move to the 2016-17 Cyprus runners-up.

"I want to thank the family of AEK who gave me the opportunity to come here," Giannou told the club website. 

"AEK is a very organised club, so I decided to come.  It is a team that has challenged for the championship in recent years and that's why I have come to win the championship. 

"My goal is to always look higher and with this reason I have come to a team that challenges for the championship to help them as much as I can. 

"I had other options, but I thought the best option was to come to AEK, having talked with the team's management about their ambition."

Giannou hasn't represented Australia since the 1-1 draw with Japan in Melbourne in October 2016 in World Cup qualifying.

AEK are currently fourth in the Cypriot top flight, six points behind leaders Apollon.