Done deal: Tottenham complete Zhang Linyan signing on season-long loan
Tottenham Women have completed the loan signing of Zhang Linyan from Wuhan Jianghan University, the WSL club has confirmed.
Spurs’ Women team announced via Twitter on Thursday (14 September) that the 22-year-old forward has joined them on a season-long basis on deadline day.
She will officially join the North London club in October once she’s finished representing the China national team at the Asian Games.
Tottenham add that Linyan’s move is still subject to international clearance.
Extra firepower
Linyan spent her entire club career in China before last season, when he joined Swiss Women’s Super League club Grasshopper Club Zurich.
While in Switzerland, the former Evergrande and Guangzhou attacker scored five goals in 15 appearances in the league and last year, she was part of the China squad that won the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup.
After scoring in the final against South Korea, David Beckham took to the social media platform Weibo to congratulate Linyan, saying: “Hi Linyan, I remember meeting you back in 2013.
“It’s amazing how your hard work has paid off and you have reached your dream. Congratulations on the result.”
Linyan also represented China at the Women’s World Cup this summer, playing all 90 minutes of her side’s 6-1 defeat against England.
Robert Vilahamn’s team kicks their WSL season off against Chelsea on 1 October so due to international commitments, it’s unlikely that Linyan will be available – or at least fit and ready – to play in that game.
China are currently hosting the Asian Games and the women’s football tournament kicks off on 22 September with China’s last group game being against Uzbekistan on 28 September.
It’s likely that the Chinese national team will go far based on their success in the Asian Cup last year and the final, which takes place at the Yellow Dragon Sports Centre in Hangzhou, won’t be played until 6 October.
Regardless of this, it’s the WSL’s transfer deadline day on Thursday (14 September) and getting a deal done now for Linyan is imperative if Vilahamn wants to add to the firepower his side can showcase this season.
Linyan might not be available for a while but getting a young, up-and-coming player from East Asia is definitely a good move for Spurs.
In other Tottenham Women news, Vilahamn has been offered the chance to prove himself in the Conti Cup.