Jiuzhi Group has joined hands with Shanghai Shenhua, a veteran Chinese Super League team that is gradually being rejuvenated. After clearing the club's debts, Shenhua is free from the transfer ban and is able to make free signings in the winter transfer window.
Compared with the past, this season Shenhua team signed a more clear goal of foreign aid, age, strength and cost-effective club selection of foreign aid to become the three major criteria.
Shenhua will retain Bassogo, who shone last season, as the Cameroonian striker, who represented the national team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, is strong enough to prove top of the Chinese Super League.
On top of Basogo's retention, Shenhua recently brought in three foreigners in Angolan striker Malelele, Cameroonian midfielder Amadou and American defender Yan Xinli, whose joining has been officially confirmed by the club.
With the addition of these three new recruits, Shenhua's fifth foreign aid candidate has also been finalized, and it is none other than Portuguese midfielder João Teixeira, who has played for Portuguese Super League giants Porto.
Teixeira, 30, initially trained with Braga's youth team before moving on to top European clubs such as Sporting Lisbon, Liverpool in the Premier League, Bradford and Brighton.
Teixeira is good at the front waist position, can also play as a left winger, he is fast, precise ball control, wide vision, excellent organization and coordination, can assist teammates, but also can score alone, is a new star of the attacking midfield.
With the departures of Moreno and Adrian, Shenhua is in dire need of a foreigner who can organize attacks and attack the city, and Teixeira is exactly in that role. Despite a transfer fee of €2 million, Shenhua decided to bring him in from Qatar League club Umm Salal.
It is reported that Shenhua has reached an agreement with Um Sharar on Teixeira's transfer, and the Portuguese midfielder is about to officially join. Before that, three new foreign aid will also be unveiled in the near future.
Next week, Shenhua will face Changchun Yatai for a warm-up match, where Mallaleale, Amadou and Yan Xinli will be unveiled to show the public what they are made of.
In addition to the three foreigners, Shenhua also brought in a number of local newcomers this season, with 23-year-old international striker Zhang Wei attracting a lot of attention. Although several clubs were interested in bringing in Zhang Wei, Shenhua finally signed him with a sincere attitude and a generous contract.
Zhang Wei's joining has brought new vigor to Shenhua's old front line, and compared to Hebei, Shenhua's midfield strength has improved significantly this season. Aided by midfielders such as Teixeira, Zhang Wei's offensive potential will be further released.
With the addition of four foreigners and three local reinforcements, along with players such as Wu Xi, Zhu Chenjie and Jiang Shenglong, Shenhua has the strength to make an impact on the top four in the table this season. The key to achieving this goal lies in whether coach Wu Jingui can fully utilize these new recruits.
