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Mike Chan

Teenaged Chinese forward Wei Xiangxin has officially become an AJ Auxerre player after signing a multi-year contract with the French Ligue 1 side on Thursday.
Wei, 18, was handed a five-year contract by Auxerre, who finished 15th out of 18 teams in France’s top-tier league and barely escaped relegation play-offs last season, and could be given a chance to demonstrate his scoring ability, having registered nine goals in just 12 under-17 appearances for China between 2024 and 2025.
“AJ Auxerre is very proud to announce the arrival of Xiangxin Wei. A great hope of Chinese football, he has signed a five-year contract and will wear number 49,” read a statement from the club.
Wei’s transfer came as no surprise after Auxerre announced last November that they had struck a deal with Chinese Super League outfit Meizhou Hakka, and that the Guangdong native would sign his first professional contract once he became an adult.
In a statement released last year, Auxerre said the club would tailor long-term training plans to Wei’s characteristics and needs, and expected Wei, who had enjoyed a three-week trial with the team last year, to achieve higher career goals in the future.

In his two seasons with Meizhou, Wei netted one goal in 28 appearances across two different tiers; his club were relegated to China League One last November, having won only five of 30 matches. He also scored one goal for the team in this year’s Chinese FA Cup.
The Chinese club said in a statement: “We look forward to your continued self-improvement and steady progress on the European stage during your overseas experiences. We always send you our sincerest blessings from our homeland.”
Born on March 5, 2008, Wei was raised by his grandparents as his parents worked in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and he discovered his interest in football when he was around eight years old, having listened to stories about “King of Asian Football” Lee Wai-tong.
From a sports school in Wuhua County, Wei then joined the academy of Meizhou Hakka, where he played between under-10 and under-11 age groups, before representing the province of Guangdong at the National Games of China.

🇨🇳欢迎小魏来到法甲！
The Chinese young star Xiangxin Wei signs with Auxerre! 🙌
📸 @AJA pic.twitter.com/Jnkttvwl2X
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) July 9, 2026

Wei played for Guangdong Mingtu in the Chinese Champions League in the 2024 season, notching seven goals in eight matches and helping the club earn promotion to China League Two.
In March last year, Wei became the first player born in 2008 to play in the CSL when he came on as a late substitute in a 2-1 win over Henan FC. The 1.80-metre (five feet 11 inches) right-footed forward netted his first, and only, goal for the team in his second appearance a month later, converting from the penalty spot as Meizhou drew 2-2 with Zhejiang FC.
On the international stage, Wei represented China's under-16 side at the Peace Cup, which was held in Shenyang in August 2024, and scored against Vietnam and Uzbekistan. Wei also won the best player award of the tournament.
Wei shot to fame when he scored four goals in five AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifying matches and helped China to qualify for the tournament. While China failed to advance from the group stage, Wei scored a stoppage-time goal in their 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia.


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Chinese Football Association (CFA)

Teenaged Chinese striker Wei Xiangxin signs multi-year contract with French club Auxerre

Wei Xiangxin (right) takes a shot against Thailand in an U-17 Asian Cup match in Saudi Arabia last year. Photo: Getty Images

Wei Xiangxin. Photo: Handout

Sport

China

Football

The Under-17 international signs five-year deal with Ligue 1 side after moving from Chinese Super League outfit Meizhou Hakka


The Under-17 international signs five-year deal with Ligue 1 side after moving from Chinese Super League outfit Meizhou Hakka.


Chinese Super League

Teenaged Chinese striker Wei Xiangxin signs multi-year contract with French club Auxerre

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The Under-17 international signs five-year deal with Ligue 1 side after moving from Chinese Super League outfit Meizhou Hakka

The Under-17 international signs five-year deal with Ligue 1 side after moving from Chinese Super League outfit Meizhou Hakka