BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Newly-promoted Chinese Super League (CSL) club Yunnan Yukun announced that it has signed Hou Yongyong after stalled negotiations resumed.
"Effective as of today, player Hou Yongyong officially joins our club following an agreement reached through consultation," the Yunnan club said in a statement released on Sunday evening.
"We believe Hou's arrival will bring notable improvement to the overall strength of our team," the statement added.
The 27-year-old striker has been linked with a move to Yunnan Yukun since he was called up by the Chinese national team for a training camp early this month.
He was close to joining the club, which secured promotion to the CSL after winning the Chinese second-tier league title last season, and took a physical examination at the club last Monday, but the deal could not be finalized after differences emerged between the two sides at the last minute.
He reportedly contacted another CSL club Chengdu Rongcheng as a possible alternative destination after his talks with Yunnan Yukun were put on hold.
Born John Hou Saeter, the midfielder is known as Hou Yongyong in China after renouncing his Norwegian passport in 2019 in order to receive Chinese citizenship, for which he was eligible through his Chinese mother. ■
