Sevilla's Escude keen on China move

Posted Monday, July 16, 2012 by ESPN

Sevilla's Julien Escude has revealed his interest in joining former team-mate Frederic Kanoute in the Chinese Super League.

The Frenchman has been a mainstay in the Sevilla starting eleven ever since he signed for the club in 2006, managing to displace Javi Navarro in central defence. After watching former team-mate and compatriot Kanoute leave the club this summer to sign for Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan, Escude told RMC that he was also considering Asian pastures.

"I told Fredi that if his club is looking for a central defender, I wanted to continue the adventure with him," he shared.

"It seems that China is not bad and it pays well... At a certain age, the objectives are different."

The upcoming season marks the 32-year-old's 14th campaign as a professional footballer. The closing of the Chinese Super League summer transfer window four days ago means that Escude will likely remain a Sevilla player at least for the first half of the club's La Liga season, until the winter window opens in January.

The Chinese Super League has become an increasingly attractive option for footballers, with the likes of Nicholas Anelka, Didier Drogba, Lucas Barrios, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Seydou Keita and Kanoute making the move in recent times.