Journeying to the West: China's footballing globetrotters

With huge sums of money having been spent by Chinese Super League clubs in recent years, a great deal of international media attention has focused on how well the likes of Carlos Tevez, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Oscar are adapting to life in China. Here at CGTN, however, we like to take a different approach, and with this in mind, we bring you a selection of the most successful Chinese footballers to have established themselves in some of Europe’s top football leagues.

Sun Jihai (Manchester City, 2002-08, 123 top division appearances, 3 goals)

Sun Jihai (L) playing for Manchester City against Southampton in the English Premier League / CFP Photo

Arguably China’s most successful footballing export, Sun first came to England in 1998 along with compatriot Fan Zhiyi, with the pair becoming the first Chinese footballers to play in England with second-tier Crystal Palace. Sun then returned to China before reappearing in England in 2001 with Manchester City. After quickly winning promotion to the Premier League, Sun played a key role in helping City consolidate their position in the top flight. The defender would become a fan favorite with his committed and consistent performances over the next six years, and his role in popularizing the English game in China was recognized when, in 2015, he became the first and only Chinese inductee into English football's hall of fame.

Yang Chen (Eintracht Frankfurt, 1998-2001, 65 apps, 16 goals)

Yang Chen celebrates scoring a goal for Eintracht Frankfurt / CFP Photo

After beginning his career at home with Beijing Guoan, Yang pitched up in Germany in 1998, and became the first Chinese to play in the country’s top-level Bundesliga when he signed for Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker plundered 16 top-flight goals over three seasons for perennial strugglers Eintracht, but couldn’t save them from relegation at the end of the 2000-2001 season. Despite this setback, Yang made his country’s squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and although the Chinese team failed to score a goal in their three games, Yang came closest when he hit the post in a group stage defeat against Turkey.

Shao Jiayi (1860 Munich, 2003-04, 17 apps, 1 goal; Energie Cottbus, 2006-09, 50 apps, 3 goals)

Playing for Energie Cottbus, Shao Jiayi (C) tackles Christoph Dabrowski (L) of Bochum / CFP Photo

Perhaps inspired by Yang Chen’s sojourn, Shao Jiayi also made the move to Germany in 2003, and ended up staying for nearly ten years. The midfielder began his German adventure with 1860 Munich in 2003, though the Bavarian side would be relegated from the Bundesliga that season. Shao remained with 1860 for two more years before returning to the top flight with Energie Cottbus. After the East German outfit also suffered the ignominy of relegation in 2009, Shao stayed with the club for another two seasons, before seeing out his career back in China.

Zhang Chengdong (Uniao Leiria, 2010-11, 14 apps, 2 goals; Beira-Mar, 2011-12, 26 apps, 6 goals; Rayo Vallecano, 2015-16, 1 app)

Rayo Vallecano's Zhang Chengdong (L) challenges Atletico Madrid's Yannick Ferreira Carrasco for the ball during the 2016 Spanish Copa del Rey / CFP Photo

Zhang is one of Chinese football’s most well-travelled players, having taken in a slew of moves all over Europe. The defender joined Portuguese team Mafra in 2008, spending the next two seasons on loan at top division outfits Uniao Leiria and Beira-Mar. After a short spell in the German second division, Zhang returned to China, but was soon on the move again, this time to Rayo Vallecano, where he became the first Chinese player to play in Spain’s top division. Still only 28, earlier this year Zhang became the most expensive Chinese footballer ever when he moved from Beijing Guoan to Hebei China Fortune for a cool 20 million dollars.

Sun Xiang (PSV Eindhoven, 2006-07, 5 apps; Austria Vienna, 2008-09, 19 apps, 2 goals)

Sun Xiang (L) became the first Chinese to play in the UEFA Champions League when he appeared for PSV Eindhoven against Arsenal in 2007 / CFP Photo

Left-back Sun shot to prominence in 2006 when he signed for PSV Eindhoven on loan, becoming the first Chinese to play in the Dutch Eredivisie and also the UEFA Champions League. Having helped PSV lift the league title, Sun returned to his parent club Shanghai Shenhua, before making another temporary move to Austria Vienna in 2008. Ever the trailblazer, the defender became the first Chinese player to play in the Austrian Bundesliga, before signing off on a successful loan spell by helping his side lift the Austrian Cup.