Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng has signed a strategic partnership with Bundesliga giant Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
The two clubs will have in-depth exchanges regarding club operation and management, youth development, football fan culture and business matches.
“Dortmund is a century-old football giant in Europe. The club shares a much similar football culture, ideas and ambitions with our club, therefore, we can learn a lot from them. We believe this comprehensive cooperation is a great chance of learning and exchanging for Shandong Luneng and even the Chinese football,” said Han Rong, vice-general manager of Shandong Luneng.
Speaking of the cooperation, Dortmund’s Chief Operating Officer Carsten Cramer said, “As a giant in the Chinese Super League, Shandong Luneng has a long history and wonderful achievements in youth development. I believe the cooperation will bring both sides a win-win result.”
To take advantage of the lucrative Chinese sports market, Dortmund announced a new three-year sponsorship deal with Chinese sports tourism agency Wow Sports in July 2016. During July of this year, the club continued to attend the International Champions Cup held in China and held several activities to satisfy the needs of the country’s Dortmund fans.
After the Chinese government signed three football cooperation agreements with the German side in November last year, Chinese football clubs have also begun to look up to Bundesliga clubs. Liaoning Whowin and Beijing BG have signed cooperation programmes with 1. FC Koln and Eintracht Frankfurta in various fields.
Proofread by William Logsdon