Brazilian midfielder Fernando to join Beijing Guoan

BEIJING - Brazilian midfielder Fernando Lucas Martins is set to join Beijing Guoan Football Club, Russian Premier League side Moscow Spartak announced on Tuesday.

Beijing Guoan made this move to help add quality and depth to midfield after Jonathan Viera was sidelined with a rib fracture from the upcoming Chinese Super League. The club also had their offer for French forward Wissam Ben Yedder turned down by Spanish side Sevilla.

The 27-year-old Brazilian footballer has contributed 12 goals in his 98 appearances for the Spartak during the past three years, including 3 goals and 2 assists during the last season of Russian Premier League.

Having made his professional debut in Gremio, Fernando was called up by Brazil in 2012-13.

He signed a contract with Donetsk Shakhtar in 2013 before he transferred to Italian Serie A club U.C. Sampdoria in 2015 and one year later to Russian club Spartak Moscow.

Fernando, who reportedly arrived in Beijing on Tuesday morning and already taken medical, may make his debut in the Chinese Super League in the match against Hebei China Fortune FC this Friday.