Position: Midfielder

Former Clubs: Liaoning Bodao

Place of Birth: China

Date of Birth: 18/09/77

Transfer fee: Loan

Chinese international midfielder Li Tie joined Everton in July 2002 on a year's loan as part of the deal that will see Everton sponsored by 'Kejian', a Chinese mobile phone company, next season.

Despite being just 24-years-old, Li Tie has already won 79 caps for China and featured during their World Cup campaign in the summer of 2002.

The defensive midfielder is regarded by many in his homeland as the star of the Chinese national team and was voted the C-League's Most Valuable Player for 2001, despite his well-documented discipline problems.

Dutch giants Ajax were interested in the star before he made the switch to Goodison Park.