Li Ke to return to Beijing Guoan amid fitness doubt

BEIJING -- Chinese naturalized player Li Ke is set to join Beijing Guoan amid doubts that he has to work hard to get fit in time for the new season.

The midfielder, also known as Nico Yennaris, on Thursday said on social media that he will fly back to China on Friday from England, where he underwent an ankle operation last season and has since stayed there for rehabilitation.

Li, who made only three appearances for Beijing, will have to work hard on his fitness to get a position in the Beijing side which has been reinforced by some new signings.

Beijing Guoan last week announced that they have signed Nigerian striker Samuel Adegbenro, Croatian forward Marko Dabro, South Korean defender Kang Sang-Woo and Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Samir Memisevic.

The Beijing club general manager Li Ming said earlier this month that they already had a well-equipped squad and he was not sure if Li can be included in the team list for the first half of this season's Chinese Super League campaign.

"Li Ke will return to China in April, but I cannot guarantee he will be on the list for the first half of the season," he said.

Li is expected to join up with the Beijing side in early May as he has to serve out a mandatory quarantine after landing in China.

The kickoff date of the 2022 Chinese Super League season remains undecided.