CAFC Soccer China

The arrival of China captain Zheng Zhi, a national icon in his homeland, to Charlton on loan in December 2006 propelled the club's link with the country, under the CAFC Soccer China banner, to another level.

The midfielder, named China Footballer of the Year in 2003 and 2006, joined the Addicks from Chinese league champions Shandong Luneng for the rest of the 2006/07 season, with a view to a permanent move.

And it's the same club with which Charlton are seeking to negotiate a broader deal incorporating the establishment of a high-profile state-of-the-art youth academy in the country.

Charlton, who travelled to China for a two-match tour in summer 2004 , initially joined forces with Chinese Super League club Shanghai United (previously known as Shanghai Zobon) in July 2005. A five-year agreement was signed, but the deal came to an end when the franchise was subsequently sold.

"We have a relationship with Shandong Luneng in that, following the end of the Zobon link, we were talking to them about a collaboration agreement,” said Charlton chief executive Peter Varney.

"From those discussions they asked us whether we would be interested in taking Zheng Zhi, the national team captain, who had a big desire to play in the Premiership.”

The loan switch was first mooted early in the 2006/07 campaign when Iain Dowie was manager.

The player then came over to England in November 2006 so both parties could take a closer look at one another following the appointment of Les Reed as head coach, and the deal was finalised the following month once Alan Pardew had been appointed.

Said Varney: "As part of the negotiations for Zheng, we are also attempting to tie up the collaboration agreement with Shandong, our Chinese partners.”

Under the CAFC Soccer China banner, it is hoped the deal will enhance the reputation of the Addicks across the country and the Far East.

Shandong Luneng, who play in the 45,000-seat capacity Shandong Stadium in Jinan, lifted the Chinese league championship in 2006. They are owned by the biggest supplier of electrical energy in the Shandong province.