Fourth tier Spanish side signs Chinese goalkeeper

Spanish third division side Extremadura UD have announced the signing of 20-year-old Chinese goalkeeper Zhang ChunYi on a three month deal, which has the option of being extended for a further three months. Zhang, who has joined from Chinese Super League club Jiangsu, is the first player to arrive at Extremadura under a deal it has signed with the company JGSoccer with the aim of bringing further Chinese players to the club and exporting Extremadura's image to China. The agreement with JGSoccer, explains the official Extremadura website, "stipulates the exchange of a sporting and cultural character between Extremadura UD and the Asian country. The Chinese players will see first hand the system and methodology of training methods in Spanish football." "We have worked on a program for training and to learn the language, culture and gastronomy of our homeland to ensure the enrichment of the experience is complete." Based in the town of Almendralejo, which has a population of around 33,000, Extremadura's finest hour came in the 1996-97 and 1998-99 seasons when the club played in the Primera Liga and it was once coached by former Valencia, Liverpool and now Chelsea coach, Rafa Benitez. Economic problems caused the club to slip down the leagues and the club now plays in group 14 of the Spanish third division, (fourth tier of the Spanish game). However after having climbed back from the fifth tier Extremadura are now leading their division and aim to return to the Segunda B this season.