Wolfsburg Confirm Xizhe Zhang Signing

Xizhe Zhang has completed his transfer to German Bundesliga club VFB Wolfsburg from Chinese Super League outfit Beijing Guoang.

The Chinese attacking midfielder, 23, has agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Die Wolfe and will wear the No. 29 shirt.

“It’s a great honour for me to be able to play for Wolfsburg,” said Zhang. “Wolfsburg are one of the top teams in Germany and the Bundesliga is one of the best leagues in the world.

Xizhe Zhang Becomes the Tenth Chinese Player in the German Bundesliga.
Xizhe Zhang Becomes the Tenth Chinese Player in the German Bundesliga.

“It’s a great challenge for me, but I will give everything I can to ensure China can be proud of me.”

Zhang’s won the Chinese Football Association Young Player of the Year award in the 2012 season.

His breakthrough campaign was in 2013 when he scored 11 goals and made 12 assists in 30 games for Guoang, and also made his debut in the Chinese national team, scoring his first goal in a 6-1 win against Singapore in September.

“We’re really delighted to be able to welcome Xizhe Zhang to us in January,” said Wolfsburg’s director of sport Klaus Allofs.

“He’s a young player who has already proven in China that he has the potential to make the leap up to the Bundesliga. We will build Xizhe Zhang up step by step and give him the time he needs.”

Zhang will link-up with his new team-mates for next month in preparation for the second half of the current campaign.

Second-placed Wolfsburg will be at home against leaders Bayern Munich on resumption of the league season.