Guangzhou R&F sign Chinese duo, Yakubu departs

Guangzhou R&F’s preparations for the 2014 Chinese Super League season have upped a level over the past week, with Nigeria international Yakubu departing while two Chinese players arrived from Shanghai Shenxin.

Yakubu, 31, had spent 18 months with the Yuexiushan outfit, but now joins Qatari Stars League side Al-Rayyan as they fight against relegation. He has since been joined by former Porto midfielder Lucho Gonzalez.

R&F, though, are in the process of conducting a late recruitment drive and welcomed both left-back Jiang Zhipeng and midfielder Zhu Baojie from Shenxin.

Per reports on Thursday, they have also agreed the RMB 20 million transfer of experienced Beijing Guoan winger Wang Xiaolong, who will arrive in the Cantonese capital on Sunday to complete his switch.

Jiang, 24, is a Chinese international and provides another much needed boost to a defence which was too often suspect last season, following the arrival of Korea Under-23 defender Jang Hyun-Soo from FC Tokyo.

Zhu, meanwhile, is a 24-year-old midfielder who has spent the past five years with the Shanghai outfit since arriving from Shaanxi Chanba.

The changes add much needed youth to the R&F side and strengthen the club’s Chinese core ahead of the inevitable arrival of foreign stars.

Of the club’s former foreign players, only Davi is predicted to remain at the club as Rafael Coelho and Jumar follow Yakubu, Eddy Bosnar and Rostyn Griffiths through the exit door.

The club have, per reports, rejected the opportunity to take defensive midfielder Qin Sheng from neighbours Evergrande, with latest updates now linking the international with a move to Guizhou Renhe instead.