Chinese naturalized footballers are association football players originally from another country who changed [Note 1] their nationality to Chinese (People's Republic of China) via naturalization.
Born in 1990 in Shanghai to a Tanzanian father and Chinese mother, Eddy Francis made one appearance for the China national under-14 football team in 2004. This was the first time a multiracial player has appeared for a China national football team of any level. [1]
Since 2019, China had begun a series of naturalization on foreign-based players in order to improve the China national team's fortunes, with the naturalization of Nico Yennaris, an English-born Cypriot and Chinese player. [2] After the naturalization of Yennaris, China continued its naturalization process, with Tyias Browning, another English-born player with Chinese ancestry, being naturalized. [3] Subsequently, Elkeson, a Brazilian player with no Chinese ancestry, was naturalized to become the 90th Brazilian who chose to represent another team outside Brazil. [4]
The following is a list of notable Chinese naturalized footballers. Footballers who have non-Chinese descent but likely had Chinese nationality at birth (e.g. Eddy Francis) or who are not notable, do not appear in the list.
If the player has previously participated in official matches on behalf of other national teams, he will still not be able to play for the Chinese national team after acquiring or restoring Chinese nationality. However, he can participate in Chinese football competitions as a domestic player.
Origin name (Chinese name) | Born | Origin nation | Naturalized | Eligible for China | Chinese ancestry | Reason of naturalization | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
John Hou Sæter (Hou Yongyong) | 1998 | Norway | 2019 | Born in Trondheim to a Norwegian father and a Chinese mother. His ancestral home is in Luoyang, Henan. | [5] | ||
Alexander N'Doumbou (Qian Jiegei) | 1992 | Gabon | 2019 | Born in Port-Gentil to a Gabonese father and a Chinese mother. His ancestral home is in Zhejiang. | [6] | ||
Nico Yennaris (Li Ke) | 1993 | England | 2019 | Born in Leytonstone to a Cypriot father and a mother of Chinese origin. His ancestral home is in Guangdong. | [7] | ||
Pedro Delgado (De'erjiaduo) | 1997 | Portugal | 2019 | Unknown; no Chinese ancestry. | [8] | ||
Elkeson (Ai Kesen) | 1989 | Brazil | 2019 | Settled in China for a long time; no Chinese ancestry. | [9] | ||
Tyias Browning (Jiang Guangtai) | 1994 | England | 2019 | Born in Liverpool to a mother of Chinese origin. His ancestral home is in Jiangmen, Guangdong. | [10] | ||
Aloísio dos Santos Gonçalves (Luo Guofu) | 1988 | Brazil | 2019 | Settled in China for a long time; no Chinese ancestry. | [11] | ||
Alan Carvalho (A Lan) | 1989 | Brazil | 2019 | Settled in China for a long time; no Chinese ancestry. | [12] | ||
Ricardo Goulart (Gao Late) | 1991 | Brazil | 2019–2021 | Settled in China for a long time; no Chinese ancestry. Renunciated Chinese nationality in late 2021. | [13] | ||
Fernandinho (Fei Nanduo) | 1993 | Brazil | 2020 | Settled in China for a long time; no Chinese ancestry. | [14] | ||
Roberto Siucho (Xiao Taotao) | 1997 | Peru | 2020–2023 | Born in Lima to a father of Chinese origin. His ancestral home is in Zhongshan, Guangdong. Renunciated Chinese nationality in early 2023. | [15] | ||
Yuan Weiwei is a Chinese footballer.
Qian Jiegei Alexander N'Doumbou, born Alexander N'Doumbou, is a Gabonese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Chinese Super League club Zhejiang. He formerly represented the Gabon national football team.
Ai Kesen, known as Elkeson, is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Chinese Super League club Chengdu Rongcheng. Born in Brazil, he plays for the China national team.
Li Ke is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Beijing Guoan. Born in England, he plays for the China national team.
Hou Yongyong, born John Hou Sæter, is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Norwegian First Division club Ranheim. Sæter has represented Norway at several youth levels; however, he was naturalised as a Chinese citizen in 2019.
Pedro Miguel Gomes Delgado is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Chinese Super League club Shandong Taishan.
The 2018 Ping An Chinese Football Association Super League was the 15th season since the establishment of the Chinese Super League. The league title sponsor was Ping An Insurance. Shanghai SIPG won their first top-tier league titles on 7 November 2018 after the 2–1 victory against Beijing Renhe, ending a historic run for Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao, who had won seven consecutive titles beginning with the 2011 season.
Jiang Shenglong is a Chinese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua and the China national team.
Liu Guobo is a Chinese footballer who plays for Chinese League Two side Tai'an Tiankuang as a midfielder or forward.
2019 Chinese FA Super Cup was the 17th Chinese FA Super Cup, an annual football match contested by the winners of the previous season's Chinese Super League and FA Cup competitions. The match was played between Shanghai SIPG, champions of the 2018 Chinese Super League, and Beijing Sinobo Guoan, the winner of the 2018 Chinese FA Cup. Policy of foreign players and U-23 domestic players was executed in the tournament. At most three foreign players could play in the match while at least one domestic player who is under the age of 23 must be in the starting eleven and at least three U-23 players must play in this match.
David Wang, known in China as Wang Jiahao, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Nantong Zhiyun, as a winger.
Roberto Siucho Neira is a Peruvian professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Peruvian Liga 1 club Alianza Atlético on loan from Universitario de Deportes. Siucho is a former youth international for Peru, before renouncing his citizenship and gaining Chinese nationality.
Wu Shaocong is a Chinese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for TFF First League club Gençlerbirliği, on loan from Süper Lig club İstanbul Başakşehir, and the China national team.
The naturalized athletes of China are those naturalized citizens who are part, or have been part, of the People's Republic of China national teams in the Olympic sports.
This is a list about the most expensive transfer fees paid or received by Chinese football clubs since the professionalism in 1994.
The 2021 Chinese Super League, officially known as the 2021 Ping An Chinese Football Association Super League for sponsorship reasons, was the 18th season since the establishment of the Chinese Super League. The league title sponsor is Ping An Insurance.
Denny Wang Yi is a professional footballer currently playing as a right-back for Wuhan Three Towns. Born in Italy, Wang regained Chinese nationality in 2021.
Li Tenglong is a Chinese footballer who plays as a midfielder. Born in Russia, he is a youth international for China.
Xu Hui or Seo Hwi is a footballer who plays as a defender for China League One club Heilongjiang Ice City.