Addicks swoop for China captain

Charlton have signed China captain Zheng Zhi on loan from Shandong Luneng with a view to a permanent deal.

The 26-year-old, who can play either in defence or midfield, had a brief trial at The Valley under former head coach Les Reed last month before leaving to play for China's under-23s as an overage player in the Asian Games in Qatar.

Zheng, his country's footballer of the year in 2003 and 2006, will be the first Chinese player to represent the Addicks and is new manager Alan Pardew's first signing.

The player scored 21 goals for Shandong Luneng as they won the national league title earlier this year.