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Jonathan White

Beijing Guoan midfielder Nico Yennaris has been named in Marcello Lippi’s 25-man China squad for their upcoming friendlies.
The London-born player, known as Li Ke in China, becomes the first naturalised player to be called up to the Chinese national team.
This squad marks the first since the Italian retook the reins of the national team, returning to a job that he left in January after they were knocked out of the AFC Asian Cup.
Yennaris joined the Chinese Super League leaders ahead of the new season and in doing so opted to renounce his UK passport and become a Chinese citizen.












View this post on Instagram



















Another good win last night 7 out of 7
A post shared by Nico Yennaris (@nicoyennaris) on Apr 29, 2019 at 12:24am PDT



That meant he would be eligible to take up a domestic spot on the team’s roster, rather than be regarded as one of the limited foreign quota.
It also opened up the possibility of representing his new home, which has become a step closer after being named to the squad for the games against the Philippines and Tajikistan.












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Delighted to get my first goal for the club and also to be the first naturalised player in history to score in the CSL
A post shared by Nico Yennaris (@nicoyennaris) on Apr 14, 2019 at 8:58am PDT



Yennaris was born and raised in Leytonstone, the same part of London as David Beckham, and he played in the same Arsenal youth team as England skipper Harry Kane.
He spent a decade at the academy of the English Premier League side and made four first team appearances for the Gunners, including a half against Manchester United in 2012.
After brief loan spells with Notts County and Bournemouth, Yennaris joined Brentford and he played 157 times for the Bees. He has scored twice in eight games since moving to China.












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This TEAM
A post shared by Nico Yennaris (@nicoyennaris) on May 18, 2019 at 3:43am PDT



The Londoner also represented England at under-17, under-18 and under-19 level, and is eligible to play for Cyprus on his father’s side.
It is his mother’s side of the family through which he was eligible to play for China and after turning 26 last week, his first birthday as a Chinese national, Yennaris is expected to make his international debut.
He already became the first naturalised player to score in the Chinese Super League and other records are set to tumble.












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8 wins out of 8 We march on!!
A post shared by Nico Yennaris (@nicoyennaris) on May 4, 2019 at 11:08am PDT



“It’s the first in the CSL by a naturalised player so it’s something that I can be proud of. For me, it’s a great honour,” he told CCTV after his first goal for Beijing Guoan.
He has endeared himself to fans by belting out the national anthem before Beijing Guoan games. “I hope to help Chinese football,” he said in another interview. “And hopefully one day I can play for the national team as well and we will try to get to a World Cup.”
That day looks set to be either June 7 or June 11 with those upcoming friendlies.












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Let’s go!
A post shared by Nico Yennaris (@nicoyennaris) on Feb 27, 2019 at 2:17am PST



Lippi’s new look squad is limited to Yennaris, as there is no place for his Beijing Guoan teammate and fellow newly naturalised footballer John Hou Saeter.
It has been reported that Lippi’s return to the job that he left in January following China’s exit from the Asian Cup was based on the possibility of playing naturalised players.
Several more players are in the process of being naturalised, such as Guangzhou Evergrande’s Tyias Browning.












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Great Wall Of China
A post shared by Nico Yennaris (@nicoyennaris) on Mar 17, 2019 at 2:48am PDT



Fans have speculated that the list will soon not be limited to those naturalised on account of ancestry but those who are eligible based on residency.
The Brazilian pair of Elkeson at Shanghai SIPG and Ricardo Goulart, who has recently returned to Guangzhou Evergrande, are expected to be asked, with reports suggesting that Fernandinho of Chongqing Lifan and Alan Carvalho of Tianjin Tianhai may follow in the future.


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Chinese Football Association (CFA)

Nico Yennaris makes history as China’s first naturalised player after call-up from Marcello Lippi

Nico Yennaris, also known as Li Ke, celebrates a goal in the Chinese Super League. Photo: Agence France-Presse

Chinese Super League: Nico Yennaris becomes first naturalised player to score as Beijing Guoan maintain unbeaten start

Nico Yennaris is unveiled as a Beijing Guoan player. Photo: Twitter/@Nico_Yennaris

Chinese Football Association wants naturalised players to have ‘patriotic feelings’ and learn about the party

John Hou Saeter, who is known as Hou Yongyong in China, was the first foreign soccer player to get Chinese citizenship. Photo: Handout

China's Vice-President Xi Jinping kicks a football during a visit to Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland February 19, 2012. REUTERS/David Moir (IRELAND - Tags: POLITICS SPORT SOCCER TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Chinese Super League: CFA rules naturalised players can’t represent new teams on the eve of new season start

Beijing Guoan’s Nico Yennaris is among the naturalised players who will have to wait to make their debut in the CSL. Photo: Twitter

Photo: Twitter

Possibility of naturalised players in the Chinese Super League puts a different complexion on football’s future

China could be set to begin scouring the world in a search for players who can be naturalised to play in the CSL or ultimately represent China. Photo: AFP

Sport

Football

Former Arsenal midfielder joined Beijing Guoan this season and has already got the nod for the national team
Landmark selection expected to be the start of a new-look China side ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in September


Former Arsenal midfielder joined Beijing Guoan this season, with landmark selection expected to be start of a new-look China side ahead of World Cup qualifiers.


Chinese Super League

Nico Yennaris makes history as China’s first naturalised player after call-up from Marcello Lippi

Former Arsenal midfielder joined Beijing Guoan this season and has already got the nod for the national team Landmark selection expected to be the start of a new-look China side ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in September

Former Arsenal midfielder joined Beijing Guoan this season and has already got the nod for the national team

Landmark selection expected to be the start of a new-look China side ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in September