Photo: Ank kumar / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
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Sun Jihai, Manchester City's first ever Asian player, made 151 appearances for the club across six seasons before departing in 2008. The defender arrived from Dalian Shide in 2002 for £2 million and went on to become a cult figure at Maine Road and later the Etihad Stadium.
Alongside Fan Zhiyi, Sun had been the first Chinese player to appear in English football when both went on loan at Crystal Palace in 1998. His permanent move to City four years later drew widespread attention in China, a country with a deep-rooted following for Premier League football.
Sun made his Premier League debut in City's first season back in the top flight following promotion from Division One, where Kevin Keegan's side finished top. He quickly established himself as first-choice right-back and was a reliable presence throughout a campaign that included a victory over Manchester United in the final derby at Maine Road.
In September 2002 he became the first East Asian player to score in the Premier League, heading home in a 2-0 win over Birmingham City. The goal followed a combination involving Marc-Vivien Foe and Eyal Berkovic, with Sun arriving at the penalty spot to convert a cross.
His most productive campaign came in 2003/04, City's first season at the Etihad Stadium, when he made 42 appearances including five UEFA Cup matches. A serious injury limited him to seven games in 2004/05, but he returned to make 34 appearances the following season under Stuart Pearce.
City conceded just 48 goals across 38 Premier League games in 2005/06, finishing 15th. Sun's contribution to that defensive record was considered significant alongside Player of the Year Richard Dunne.
After six years at the club, Sun joined Sheffield United in the summer of 2008. He played one season there before returning to China, where he continued until 2016. Since retiring, he has run sports data company HaiQui Sports.
City are set to return to Asia this summer for their 2026 pre-season tour, facing Inter in Hong Kong on 1 August, a K League All-Stars side in Seoul on 5 August and Atletico Madrid on 9 August.