Charlton capture Chinese superstar

Charlton have clinched the loan signing of Chinese superstar Zheng Zhi with a view to a permanent deal, the club confirmed on Friday morning.

Zheng trains with the Addicks during November before the Asian Games

In what was the first new recruit since new manager Alan Pardew took the helm of the Addicks, the versatile China captain - revered in his homeland - will join from Shandong Luneng initially for the rest of the 2006/07 campaign.

Then Charlton have an option to sign the 26-year-old, who has arguably the most famous initials in world football, on a permanent basis.

Zheng, who can play either in defence or midfield, enjoyed a much-publicised yet brief trial at Charlton last month where he impressed former head coach Les Reed, before heading to Qatar to represent his country's U23 side in the Asian Games.

Competing as an overage player, ZZ helped his side to the quarter-finals before a penalty shoot-out defeat against Iran.

But now he is set to return to England over the weekend and link up with Charlton next week after the opening of the January transfer window.

Zheng is the first Chinese player to represent the Addicks and expands the club's international contingent to a whopping 15 countries, while the multinational club can now boast players from five different continents.

The midfielder, one of the most instantly recognisable figures in Asian football, was named Chinese footballer of the year in 2003 and 2006 and netted 21 goals for Shandong Luneng as they clinched the national league title earlier this year.

He missed out on the chance to take on the Addicks back in the summer of 2004 as Charlton headed to the Far East for a pre-season tour.

At the time a player with Shenzhen Jianlibao, Zheng was in Asian Cup action again two-and-a-half years ago so was an absentee for the friendly fixture.

He also missed out on this summer's World Cup, after being suspended for China's eventual defeat in their deciding Germany 2006 clash with Kuwait.

Zheng will be the third Chinese star to ply his trade on the Premiership this season, following in the stud-marks of Manchester City utility man Sun Jihai and Sheffield United's Li Tie.