Metz may become home for China’s rising stars

A delegation from the Chinese Football Federation are spending four days at French Second Division club Metz with a view to sending their best young talent to develop there, the French side have announced.

Metz, two-time French Cup winners, have already established firm ties with China having collaborated with the Chinese province of Chengdu for the last six years, and are keen to get the nod from the national federation.

Metz said their objective was to offer the youth players chosen by the federation the best working, schooling, medical and sporting conditions at facilities close to the club’s training centre.

The alliance between Metz and Chengdu is set to bear its first fruit as 19-year-old Yi Teng – who arrived for a trial last October – will sign his first professional contract on Friday just before the kick-off of the home match with Nantes.

Li Jin Yu was the first Chinese player to play professional football in France, when he played for Nancy in the 1998-1999 season.

Metz is in the north-east of France, close to the border with Luxembourg and Germany.