Mousa Dembele set to join China’s Guangzhou R&F: source

The 31-year-old will cost about 12 million euros and he is set to become the latest big-name star to join the Chinese Super League (CSL).

Dembele is regarded as one of the finest midfielders in the English Premier League when fit, but his appearances have become increasingly limited because of injury.

His move to R&F, whose coach is the former Yugoslav great Dragan Stojkovic, could be officially announced as soon as Thursday, the club source said on condition of anonymity.

Dembele, who has more than 80 caps for Belgium, joined Tottenham in 2012 from Fulham and in his pomp was a dynamic fulcrum in their midfield.

He started his career in his native Belgium before moves to Willem II and AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands.

It was there that the midfielder caught the eye of Fulham’s scouts and he spent two years at Craven Cottage.

Dembele’s signing would represent a coup for R&F, who are not one of China’s traditional heavyweights and flirted with relegation from the CSL last season before finishing just below mid-table.