China´s Zheng signs for Celtic

China captain Zheng Zhi has signed a two-year contract with Scottish giants Celtic, state media said on Thursday.

The 29-year-old midfielder signed with the Glasgow club for 10,000 pounds (16,250 dollars) a week, Soccer News reported.

Zheng was a free agent after his contract at English League One club Charlton expired at the end of last season.

Newly hired Celtic coach Tony Mowbray was keen to sign Zheng when he was manager at West Bromwich Albion and is finally set to get his man, subject to a work permit being granted.

“Celtic are a great club with a great manager. I’m so excited to be here and looking forward to playing with Celtic. I’m very happy,” Zheng told Scotland’s Daily Record on Wednesday.

“I know Tony from his time at West Brom and I really liked him then. He tried to sign me a year ago, so it’s good for me I was able to do that now.”

Zheng will be joining Japanese midfielder Koki Mizuno at the club and is arriving four months ahead of South Korea’s Ki Sung-Yong.

He would be the third Chinese player to play in the Scottish Premier League.