Chinese Super League golden boot Eran Zahavi signs for PSV Eindhoven at 33
- Striker is the latest player to move back to one of Europe’s top clubs from Chinese Super League
- The Israeli goal machine set a new season benchmark last season with 29 goals in 30 games, beating China striker Elkeson’s 28
Chinese Super League golden boot holder Eran Zahavi has finalised his move from Guangzhou R&F to PSV Eindhoven, the Dutch side confirmed on Sunday.
The Israel striker left his Chinese club to play for his country in the Uefa Nations League and was not expected to return, with interest from several European clubs.
Zahavi, 33, joins up with former Beijing Guoan coach Roger Schmidt at PSV, who are also reported to be interested in signing South Korean defender Kim Min-jae from the Beijing club.
Writing in Hebrew on Instagram, Zahavi expressed his delight at the move.
“Fulfilling dreams is also possible late in the career if you work hard enough and believe,” he wrote.
“I went with the heart and the professional challenge to a team that I think believes in me and my abilities and fits my style of play.
“Now my job is to get back on the field and justify the trust they give me.”
The striker’s free transfer was confirmed by the Eredivisie giants on social media with the message “Shalom Eran” welcoming him in Hebrew and a description of his profession as “scoring goals”.
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Technically, Zahavi is the top-scoring foreign player in CSL history after Brazil-born Elkeson naturalised as Chinese last year.
He scored 91 goals and provided 27 assists in just 102 CSL games for the Guangzhou side after arriving from Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2016.
Zahavi also netted 12 times in 11 Chinese FA Cup games to leave the club with 102 goals in 113 appearances.
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Four of those goals came in his seven appearances this season following the CSL’s coronavirus-delayed 2020 campaign kicking off in July
Zahavi is the latest in a long list of players that have returned to European football from China, including Paulinho and Nicolas Anelka.
Last season Manchester United signed Shanghai Shenhua striker Odion Ighalo on loan.
