Hong Kong footballer Dai Wai-tsun, known as Tsun Dai in England, has left League Two Oxford United to sign for English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, the club has announced.
The midfielder will jet to Spain this weekend to join up with Rob Edwards’ under-23 side as they prepare for the upcoming Premier League 2 season.
Wolves become Dai’s third English club as a professional after stints with Bury and Oxford, who he joined at the beginning of last season.
He spent some of last season on loan with FC Utrecht in the Netherlands, playing 12 times.
He played nine times for Bury in League One and scored his first goal as a pro in the Checkatrade Trophy against Fleetwood Town.
Tsun moved to England at 12 to sign for Reading, where he came through the academy before moving to Bury.
Wolves academy manager Edwards told the club’s website of his delight at the signing.
“Dai arrived here at the start of the month and has already settled into the group well. He’s a midfield player who wants to try and get on the ball and he’s got lots of energy.
“He’s got a good personality and will get an opportunity, like all of our players in the under-23s, to show what he can do.
“We need to see more of him, as we do with all of our summer signings, because our levels are going to go up this season, especially if we want to close the gap to the first-team.
“We’ve got to get to know him, but he’s got to get to know us, get to know the way we work, how we do things. So far, he’s made a good first impression.”
The Fosun-owned club now have five players with Chinese heritage on their books. Dai joins Ming-yang Yang, Hong Wan, Dongda He and David Wang at Molineux.
It is understood that signing a Chinese player for the first team is a key objective for Wolves and Fosun owner Guo Guangchang.
Spain-born Wang, 19, joined in January but was shipped out to Sporting Lisbon on loan because he is currently ineligible for a UK work permit as he has a Chinese passport.
There will be no such worries for Dai, although he did train with the Chinese under-21 side last season. He then refused to commit his future to Hong Kong despite earning his first call up under Gary White.
Dai will likely get a chance to return to Hong Kong if he impresses with the under-23s. They took part in their first Hong Kong Soccer Sevens this year and may well be back in 2020.
Wolves’ first team squad, who finished seventh on their return to the top flight last season, will soon be in China.
They are taking part in the Premier League Asia trophy, which runs from July 17-19 in Nanjing and Shanghai.
Wolves face Newcastle United in their opening game in Nanjing. They will then face either Manchester City or West Ham United at Shanghai’s Hongkou Stadium on July 19.
