UNITED SIGN CHINESE LAD

Last updated : 13 January 2004 By editor

Manchester United have completed the signing of Chinese prodigy Dong Fangzhou.

In a complicated transfer, United will pay an initial £500,000 for the 18-year-old striker – which could eventually rise to £3.5million depending on appearances.

But because Dong does not qualify for a UK work permit, he will have to begin his United career at Belgian feeder club Royal Antwerp at the start of next season.

Should he prove good enough to play in the Premiership he would then be forced to either apply for a Belgian passport – which would allow him to play in England – or have played in 75% of China’s international matches over the next two years in order to qualify for a work permit.