FIVE players, two from the national soccer team and three foreigners, joined Shenzhen soccer club yesterday, raising to six the number of foreign players in the team.

Mao Jianqing, Chen Lei and Argentine Hernan Barcos, from Shanghai Shenhua, have arrived in Shenzhen and will be on loan to the Shenzhen team until Oct. 30, when the CSL 2009 season ends. The other two players, one from Serbia and the other from Brazil, will arrive today.

According to FIFA regulations, only five foreign players are allowed in a soccer team.

This means one would be dropped, based on performance, Wayne Wan, Shenzhen club chairman said.

Mao, 23, has been one of the star players for Shanghai Shenhua. He has played for the national soccer team and scored an important goal against Palestine to send China into the Asian Cup finals in 2007. His speed, strength, confidence and intelligent ball control make him one of the best wingers in China. He also has a strong shot.

Chen Lei, 24, is now still training with the national football team. He was loaned to Changchun Yatai for two seasons and, during that period, he gained considerably more playing time and helped the team to claim their first league title in his first season with them. He returned to Shenhua Football Club at the end of 2008.

Barcos, 25, has played for Red Star, Olmedo, Club Guarani and Huracan. He scored his first league goal in Serbia, netting twice in the late minutes against Banat, helping Red Star to get three points Oct. 7, 2007.

In another development, two former players of the Shenzhen soccer team, Hui Jiakang and Lei Yongchi, have been found training in Portugal, on trial for about three weeks, after they failed to reach an agreement with the club on contract terms in March.

The two from Shenyang, both 20, joined the Shenzhen team in 2003. Hui was recruited by the national soccer team at the end of last year while Lei was summoned to the China Olympic soccer team last year, Fan Yuhong, general manager and general coach of the Shenzhen team said yesterday.

“The two players have participated in the (Shenzhen) team for around seven years and the club has spent much time training them. We hope they can return to Shenzhen for the club and for their individual development,”said Wan.

Cai Yingbo