Two 16-year-old Chinese footballers will enrol at Lyon’s academy in July as part of an agreement between the French heavyweights and the Chinese Football Federation, the club revealed on Friday.

The two players will be selected at a trial that will take place in China in February in the presence of Lyon head of recruitment Florian Maurice and director of youth recruitment Gerard Bonneau.

“This partnership demonstrates the recognition enjoyed by Lyon’s youth training centre at a global level and confirms the club’s desire to expand its scouting programme to new horizons,” read a club statement.

Lyon also this week announced the signing of 22-year-old UAE international defender Hamdan El Kamali, who will play for the club’s reserves.

His arrival reflects Lyon’s desire to forge economic ties with emerging countries, particularly in the Gulf region.