Shenhua agree to Du loan deal with Bhoys
Chinese international Du Wei has finally received approval from Shanghai Shenhua to join Scottish giants Celtic on loan.
The deal, after on-again, off-again negotiations between the two clubs over the past month, will see the 23-year-old defender play for Celtic for the next four months with a permanent move to be considered in January.
'The agreement owes much to the magnanimity of Shenhua,' said Du (pictured), hours before he boarded a Europe-bound flight yesterday morning. 'I just want to say 'many thanks indeed' to the officials involved in the talks.'
Shenhua had been unable to agree a transfer fee with Celtic, but the Shanghai club have now agreed to accept US$200,000 for the four-month load period.
If the move becomes permanent the Chinese Super League side will receive a further US1.1 million.
'We are glad to see a compromise has been reached,' said Dai Chunhua, a Shenhua spokesman.
'The whole club wish him well and we would welcome him back under any circumstances.'
Shenhua are currently second in the Chinese Super League standings, behind leaders Dalian Shide.
'Four months is a short period of time and I know an enormous task lies ahead for me to convince Celtic that they have made the right choice,' said Du, who will undergo a medical today in Glasgow.
Du impressed Celtic manager Gordon Strachan during a week-long tryout in Scotland early last month.
He will be the second Chinese player to ply his trade in the Scottish Premier League. Former Chinese captain Fan Zhiyi, once also a Shenhua defender, played for Dundee in the 2001-02 season.
