Former Dundee United defender Ryan McGowan signs with CSL club Henan Jianye. (Photo : Getty Images)
China club Henan Jianye FC is set to complete the transfer of Dundee United FC player Ryan McGowan for a fee of £300,000 as the Chinese Super League squad looks to add depth in their defensive backfield lineup, recent reports have said.
The Courier indicated that the 26-year-old defender "is on his way back to China" after accepting the Red Devils offer on Thursday.
McGowan had already played in the China top flight back in 2013 and 2014 for Shandong Luneng Taishan FC, appearing in 55 games during his two season stay with the club and contributing three goals mainly as a defensive player.
The 6-foot-3 Australian, who also plays as a defensive midfielder, began his professional association football career in 2008 for Scottish club Heart of Midlothian FC, staying for six seasons and playing 72 games in all competitions and also scoring three goals.
He was on loan to Ayr United FC and Partick Thistle FC, also in Scotland, during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons respectively before Shandong signed him in January 2013 for a reported fee of £400,000.
In his final game for the Orange Fighters, McGowan netted the winning goal during injury time against Jiangsu Suning, but Shandong still did not extend his contract after the 2014 CSL season.
The Adelaide, Australia native was then signed to an 18-month contract by then Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara in January of last year, appearing in 15 games for the Tangerines and scoring a goal.
BBC Sport reported that Henan paid the Terrors £300,000 for the release of the Australia international and is now on his way back to China for his medical and official signing of papers.
McGowan is said to be "the latest player to exit United" as the Tannadice Park residents seek to restructure a team that is currently at the cellar of the 2015-2016 Scottish Premiership table with only 10 points to boot after 22 games played, 42 points behind league leading Celtic FC.
Meanwhile, Henan Jianye finished fifth during last season's Chinese Super League competitions with 46 points, 21 points behind five-time consecutive winners Guangzhou Evergrande.
The club's highest finish in the China top flight so far was at third place during the 2009 season.
