Gabon international Malick Evouna joined Chinese Super League club Tianjin Teda FC on Monday in a transfer deal worth $8 million from Egyptian Premier League side Al Ahly Sporting Club.

The 23-year-old forward agreed to a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Tianjin Tigers that is reportedly set to earn him around $2 million per season, Ahram Online reported.

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Evouna was acquired by Al Ahly in July of last year, the same date as he left the Cairo-based club this year, from Moroccan squad Wydad Casablanca for a then Egyptian transfer record of $2.5 million.

The 5-foot-11 Libreville, Gabon native said to have started slowly for the Red Devils before finally scoring 12 goals in 24 appearances in the Egyptian first division competitions, as per King Fut, helping head coach Sayed Abdel Hafeez's men reclaim the country's top flight crown, the team's 38th all-time.

Now, he is set to reinforce manager Dragan Okuka's scoring frontline that also boasts off former Juventus striker Mbaye Diagne and former Sporting CP and Seattle Sounders forward Fredy Montero.

Tianjin Teda is on a downward spiral at the moment as the team had been winless in their last five matches. Their latest win was a 1-0 nipping of newly-promoted side Yanbian Funde FC at their home ground of Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium last month.

From then on, they were blanked by defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande and fourth-running squad Hebei China Fortune in consecutive games before pulling off a 1-1 draw with another powerhouse team, Shanghai SIPG in round 15 of China top flight competitions.

They lost to Evergrande once again, 0-3, in the next round before settling for another draw with Beijing Guoan, 0-0 at the Workers' Stadium last Saturday.

The Tigers are presently in the middle of the 16-team CSL standings, at the eighth spot, nine points above the bottom two relegation area and eight points below the third and final AFC Champions League qualifying berth currently held by SIPG.

Evouna's acquisition is expected to boost coach Okuka's scoring options as they try to climb their way up to the top of the league table.

TagsChina Football, Chinese Super League, Chinese Super League news, Malick Evouna, Tianjin Teda FC