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Jonathan White

Chinese international footballer Wu Lei has signed for Spanish La Liga side Espanyol from Chinese Super League champions Shanghai SIPG.
The forward’s move had been expected since Sunday when the Barcelona-based club announced they would be signing a top Chinese attacker.
Fans had expressed their support for Espanyol, based on that news, by picking them to win over Real Madrid on football app Dongqiudi.

#WuLeiPerico ⚪️
Benvingut!
¡Bienvenido!
Welcome!
欢迎!https://t.co/qQXoNWPpVf#RCDE | #Volem | #EspanyoldeBarcelona pic.twitter.com/y5GSKl49sK
— RCD Espanyol (@RCDEspanyol) 28 January 2019

Real Madrid won the game 4-2 to leave Wu’s new side 15th on the table. They have now lost nine of their last 10 league games.
Espanyol announced the signing with a post on Twitter with the hashtag #WuLeiPerico, referencing the team’s “parakeets” nickname, and confirmed he will wear the No 24 shirt.
Wu is reported to have signed a deal until 2022.
Six of the best for Chinese Super League on World Soccer 500 but Wu Lei is the only local to make the cut
Espanyol are owned by the Rastar Group, a Chinese model car company based in Guangdong province.Chairman Chen Yangsheng promised Uefa Champions League football inside three years of taking over in January 2016.
Premier League move for China’s Wu Lei will give Wolves off-field edge but he must prove he’s more than a ‘shirt seller’


Arriba al RCD Espanyol de Barcelona una de les màximes estrelles de la Superlliga xinesa!
¡Llega al #RCDE una de las máximas estrellas de la Superliga china!
快到巴塞罗那皇家西班牙人足球俱乐部来看中超联赛最闪耀的球星之一吧！#WuLeiPerico | #Volem | #EspanyoldeBarcelona pic.twitter.com/LeZ6SegIXA
— RCD Espanyol (@RCDEspanyol) 28 January 2019

Wu, 27, hit 27 goals in 28 games in the Chinese Super League last season. He also scored twice at the Asian Cup despite carrying an injury that he has travelled to Europe to have surgery on.
That injury is expected to postpone any debut for his new club until at least March.
The striker has been the highest scoring domestic player in the CSL since 2013 and last season won the golden boot outright.
He is the CSL’s record scorer and has hit over 100 goals since coming up with Shanghai SIPG in 2013.
Wu made his debut for the club as a 14-year-old and became their youngest scorer at 16. He is the club’s all-time top scorer.
Finding Wu Lei: China are starting to lay the foundations of a youth development programme, but when will it bear fruit?

Massive proud on behalf of Wu Lei getting this chance in La Liga. Enjoyed working with him for 4 years following his development closely. A good boy who deserves this chance in Europe #SIPG pic.twitter.com/11GWLlVPZC
— Mads Davidsen (@MadsRDavidsen) 28 January 2019

Former Shanghai SIPG coach Mads Davidsen, who left the champions in the close season, wished Wu well on Twitter.
The goodwill, and hope that Wu is going to be given game time, was a theme on Twitter where many Espanyol fans had posted from Sunday demanding the club “announce Wu Lei”.
On Chinese social media, Espanyol’s Weibo post announcing the signing became the club’s most successful ever.
Military camps, Guangzhou Evergrande era ends and Wu Lei shines: 2018 Chinese Super League season is one to remember

Chinese-owned La Liga side @RCDEspanyol will announce the signing of a Chinese striker later Sunday, who is among the “top three” #football stars in China: Spanish media. Most fans believe the player will be #WuLei. pic.twitter.com/hpy87d5TzI
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) 27 January 2019

There has been speculation that other Chinese national team players will follow Wu, who was earlier linked with Chinese-owned English Premier League side Wolves, to Europe.
The belief is that the Chinese Football Association are keen on their players moving to Chinese-owned clubs overseas.
The European transfer window runs until the end of the month.
Asian Cup: Marcello Lippi is right – Chinese football’s problems are striking, but maybe there’s hope for the future


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Spanish La Liga

China’s Wu Lei joins Espanyol: forward leaves Chinese Super League champions Shanghai SIPG for Spanish La Liga strugglers

China's Wu Lei fights for the ball at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup football match against Kyrgyzstan. Photo: AFP

Sport

Football

Forward expected to be ruled out for at least a month with shoulder injury sustained on national duty at the Asian Cup
CSL top scorer leaves champions Shanghai SIPG for Chinese-owned side sitting 15th on the table


Forward expected to be ruled out for at least a month with shoulder injury sustained on national duty at the Asian Cup


Chinese Super League

Chinese Football Association (CFA)