PSV swoop for Zhou

Zhou: On the move

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China international Zhou Haibin has signed a one-year deal with Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven.

The midfielder leaves Shandong Luneng on a free transfer after his contract with the C-League club had expired at the end of last year.

However, the move almost collapsed when Shandong contemplated about blocking the move despite the player being a free agent.

Unlike its European counterparts, the Chinese Football Association allows its club teams to retain the rights of players for another 30 months after the expiration of their contracts.

Zhou was delighted a mutual agreement had been reached between PSV and Shandong which involved an undisclosed compensation fee.

Grateful

"PSV's dealings with my transfer were based on international rules," he said on Shanghai Daily.

"I am grateful to Shandong Luneng for giving me this opportunity. The club played an important role in my life for the past 10 years.

"To make the deal work, I was willing to take a pay-cut to help my old club recoup some of their losses. If I were to return to China, Shandong will be my first choice."

In his six years in Shandong's senior setup, he helped the team to two Chinese Super League titles.

He has also made 37 appearances for China's national team, scoring three goals in the process.