The Chinese China midfielder Zhou Haibin looks set to join PSV Eindhoven in a move that challenges the right of Chinese clubs to retain the registration of out-of-contract players.
The 23-year-old, dubbed "China's Bosman" by local media, finished his contract at Shandong Luneng at the end of last season and has since been negotiating a move to the Dutch champions.
The Chinese Football Association (CFA), however, instituted a rule in 2007 that allows Chinese clubs to retain the registration of players for 30 months after the expiration of their contracts.
Zhou's agent says PSV had gone ahead with signing the player despite Shandong's reported objections.
