Cote d'Ivoire forward Gervinho joins Chinese football club

IANS
Hebei China Fortune Football Club have roped in Gervinho.

Cote d'Ivoire's star forward Gervinho has joined Hebei China Fortune Football Club from AS Roma, the Chinese Super League club announced on Tuesday.

The newly-promoted club based in Qinhuangdao in northern Hebei Province didn't disclose contract details, reports Xinhua.

Gervinho told reporters that he was excited to return to Qinhuangdao, one of the 2008 Olympic soccer venues, where Cote d'Ivoire lost to Nigeria 0-2 in the Olympic quarter-finals.

"That city is beautiful and is close to sea. I like it very much," said Gervinho.

The two-time Cote d'Ivoire Footballer of the Year played for Beveren in Belgium (2005-2006), Le Mans in France (2007-2008), led Lille to the French league and Cup titles (2009-2010), spent the 2010-2011 season in the English Premier League side Arsenal and joined Serie A heavyweights Roma in 2013.

Gervinho has played five straight Africa Cup of Nations, helping the team to the runners-up finish in 2013 and scored four goals in the country's title-winning run in 2015.

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