Adelaide United chairman Piet van der Pol explains why a Chinese youngster with no first-team experience has joined the Reds

Adelaide United’s Chinese recruit may be set for a stint in the club’s youth ranks. But the Reds are banking on a raft of associated commercial spin-offs, even before he challenges for a first-team berth. Chairman Piet van der Pol said the acquisition of Yongbin Chen was an opportunity to unearth a potential talent while gaining a stronger foothold in the lucrative Asian football market. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder, who signed on Tuesday from Adelaide’s sister club Qingdao Red Lions, was yet to register a senior professional appearance. But van der Pol endorsed Cheng’s playing ability and said television stations had already inquired about covering his A-League adventure. “The Chinese football market is at this moment developing to be the biggest market in the world financially,” said van der Pol, from Qingdao. “This gives Adelaide United commercial opportunities. “We are for instance talking to several (Chinese media) parties who are interested in following the player (Chen) in his development in Australia. “There would be a lot of interest, because football is a government policy in China and to promote and improve football they understand they need foreign help. “But he (Chen) will need several months to adjust. “Like many Chinese players their workrate is huge, conditionally they are very strong, their technique is pretty good, but tactically he needs to learn a lot.” Chen filled United’s fifth and final international player spot, when he became just the Reds’ second Chinese recruit after Shengqing Qu (eight goals in 26 games from 2004-07). Van der Pol said Chen had been restricted to playing for Qingdao’s reserves, following delays securing his release from a previous privately-held contract. The Reds chief said he preferred to add a youngster to Adelaide’s squad, rather than bringing in an experienced foreigner who might squeeze a local talent or fellow import out of the team. It left United with just two established centre backs and the versatile Michael Marrone, who would likely be shifted to the heart of defence this week to cover for the injured Jordan Elsey. But van der Pol backed United’s emerging youth team defenders to provide adequate back-up. He said Chen’s arrival, which would be completed when he received a work permit in the coming weeks, would not prevent the club from signing local NPL players. “Why would we not look at any other talent in South Australia?” said van der Pol, who is also president of Qingdao. “This doesn’t block any spots for others. “Our first team is pretty old (at Qingdao). “We can send a 28-year-old who will not improve a lot, but we think this player (Chen) has the quality and the potential to improve a lot. “We do need more than 11 players of course. “But the reality is the squad looks pretty good in every position.” Chinese soccer had exploded in the past decade, buoyed by a 1.4 billion population, 64 professional clubs and the sport being a key component of every primary school’s curriculum. China Sports Media paid $2.2 billion for Chinese Super League TV rights last year and even third-tier Qingdao operate under a $7.3 million salary cap — more than double the A-League’s. Chen, who captained the Red Lions’ second side and can play on both wings, will be joined by several countrymen training with Adelaide this summer. Van der Pol said signing a Chinese player would be an annual exercise for United, which started with eight SA-born or raised players in its season-opener against Sydney FC. “We said when we purchased the club (in 2018) that we want to develop local talent in Adelaide. “I think we have shown that by (promoting) our youth players and by the players we brought in from outside (such as) Riley McGree and James Troisi. “But we always want to create a pathway for one Chinese player as well. “We want to develop the opportunity that is Chinese football and Chinese youth development, because that market is huge. “This is part of our overall football philosophy to make Adelaide United a better club and to help develop Australian football.”