Auxerre sign 18-year-old Chinese striker Xiangxin Wei on five-year deal | OneFootball

Auxerre have signed 18-year-old Chinese centre-forward Xiangxin Wei on a five-year deal, the club announced on Thursday. If he appears for the first team, he would be only the second Chinese player in Ligue 1 history.

Wei joins from Meizhou Hakka and featured in 17 Chinese Super League matches last season, scoring one goal. He has represented his country at U16 and U17 level.

He is Auxerre’s fourth summer addition, not counting the permanent signing of forward Danny Namaso and the renewed loan of attacking midfielder Romain Faivre. The club had already added goalkeeper Mamadou Diop from Grenoble, left-back Sékou Fofana from Lausanne-Sport, and midfielder Arthur Piedfort from Westerlo.

The first team is now led by Will Still. The last Chinese to play in Ligue 1 was Jinyu Li with Nancy in 1998-1999, making eight appearances in all competitions.

Wei shares nationality with Auxerre owner James Zhou. The teenager will hope to make a stronger impression.

Source: L'Équipe