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English Premier League
SportFootball

Wolves signing David Wang set to follow English Premier League’s Chinese pioneers at Manchester City and Everton

  • China’s 2002 World Cup squad paved the way with Sun Jihai in England’s National Football Museum Hall of Fame after making over 100 appearances for Manchester City
  • Dong Fangzhou received guard of honour led by John Terry in his only league game for Manchester United

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Chinese internationals Li Tie (L) and Sun Jihai shake hands after a Premier League match in 2003. Photo: Reuters
Jonathan White

Wolverhampton Wanderers have announced the signing of the highly rated youngster David Wang.

The 18-year-old joins the Chinese-owned English Premier League club from Spanish side Jumilla, a club also owned by Fosun.

Also known as Wang Jiahao, the forward turns 19 later this month and will initially be loaned to Sporting Lisbon in Portugal to develop in the club’s reserves.

Born in Spain, Wang first played futsal before turning to football and has featured for a number of Spanish sides, including Real Murcia B.

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He was named as one of the best 60 youth talents of 2017 in British newspaper The Guardian’s annual list and speaks fluent English, Spanish and Chinese.

If and when he makes his debut for the Molineux side, Wang will become one of only a handful of Chinese players to have played professionally in England.

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Those who blazed the trail did so to varying degrees of success.

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