Former Ivory Coast captain Yaya Toure and his club Qingdao Huanghai have earned a historic promotion to Chinese Super League following a 2-0 win over Shanghai Shenxin in the Division Two penultimate match day on Saturday.
The 36-year-old midfielder joined Qingdao in July and has featured in 12 games, scored two goals and provided three assists to help the club’s promotion to the elite division for the first time.
When the new season resumes next March, the four-time African Footballer of the Year will have the opportunity to face other African stars like Cedric Bakambu, Stephane Mbia, Christian Bassogog and Odion Ighalo who ply their trade in the topflight.
The former Manchester City star captained the Elephants of Ivory Coast to win the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015 before retiring from the team in 2017.
