Z Z Going Home

However the impressive midfielder/striker has declared he still wants to be at The Valley next season on a permanent deal.


Zheng joined the club during the January transfer window from Chinese league and cup winners Shandong Luneng and has settled into life in England quickly. He has put in numerous decent performances and he scored on his full league debut against Newcastle.

It was actually Les Reed who had set up the deal for ZZ’s loan move and when Pardew replaced Reed he decided to keep the deal on.

The 26-year-old will return home once the season has been completed and will feature for Shandong in June’s A3 Championship before opening discussions on a permanent deal with the club.

His parent club and Chinese league winners will take on their Japanese counterparts Urawa Reds, Korean champions Seongnam Ilhwa and Shanghai Shenhua, runners-up in last year’s Chinese Super League, in the annual regional competition.

‘After the six-month loan deal, I will definitely return to Shandong Luneng to play in the A3,’ said Zheng

‘At that time, Shandong Luneng and Charlton Athletic will have a new round of discussions about my future contract.’

Zheng is determined to play a role in keeping the Addicks in the top flight.

‘I will do my utmost to help Charlton avoid relegation,’ he said.

‘That is very important because I won’t be able to play Premier League otherwise even if they give me a contract next year.’