Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning has sent defender Trent Sainsbury on loan to sister company Inter Milan on Tuesday.

Sainsbury, 25, has been with Jiangsu for one season after he was acquired from Dutch club PEC Zwolle in January of last year for a transfer fee of $1.5 million. He had scored two goals in a total of 41 appearances last season and is entering the second year of his three-year contract with the Suning Group.

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The Australia international will replace Andrea Ranocchia in Inter head coach Stefano Pioli's lineup as the Italian center-back was also sent on loan to English Premier League club Hull City AFC at the same time, as per Goal.

It should be noted that Jiangsu Suning and Inter Milan share the same owners in the Suning Holdings Group.

In an official statement, Jiangsu thanked Sainsbury for his 2016 performance for the club, saying "We greatly appreciate the contributions made by Sainsbury last season and thanks for all the joy and pride he brought to our fans. (We) wish him luck and all the best in his new challenge".

The new rules implemented by the Chinese Football Association this upcoming season was reportedly one of the main reasons why Suning has decided to lend Sainsbury back to Europe, according to ESPN.

The CFA has decreased the limit of allowable imports who can suit up for a given squad on the pitch at a time. From the former four non-Asian and one Asian import per team, it is now down to three foreigners at a time, regardless if they are Asian or non-Asian.

With Sainsbury's exit, Jiangsu head coach Choi Yong-soo is now left with four imports in his roster, namely Brazilians Alex Teixeira and Ramires, Colombian striker Roger Martinez, and South Korean defender Hong Jeong-ho.

Sainsbury began his senior career with local A-League club Central Coast Mariners, where he played for four years before moving to the Netherlands. He then spent three seasons with the Eredivisie squad prior to his Suning stint.

TagsChinese Super League, Chinese Super League news, Chinese Super League News 2017, Trent Sainsbury, Jiangsu Suning FC, Inter Milan