Ibrahim Amadou has completed a move from Shanghai Shenhua to fellow Chinese Super League side Chongqing Tonglianglong on a free transfer, sealing the next chapter of his career in China’s top flight. The experienced defensive midfielder joins his new club with an official transfer date of 2026-02-06, remaining under contract until an undisclosed future end date.
The France- and Cameroon-qualified midfielder arrives at Chongqing Tonglianglong with a current market value listed at €650k, according to the latest data. His switch keeps him in the Super League rather than prompting a return to Europe, confirming that his immediate future lies abroad rather than in his countries of nationality.
Amadou, 32, leaves Shanghai Shenhua after a spell in which his value gradually declined from earlier peaks in Europe but remained strong enough to attract interest within China. The deal involves no transfer fee, underlining both his contract situation at Shenhua and Chongqing Tonglianglong’s opportunistic move to secure an experienced holding midfielder without a cash outlay.
Born in Douala and standing 1.82m tall, Amadou is a right-footed specialist in the defensive midfield role, though his career has often seen him used as a midfield anchor tasked with screening the back line. His arrival bolsters Chongqing Tonglianglong’s options in the centre of the pitch, where his primary brief will be to add structure, ball-winning ability and positional discipline in front of the defence.
The move continues a long and varied career path. After progressing through AS Nancy-Lorraine’s setup in France, including time with AS Nancy-Lorraine B and the first team, Amadou earned a transfer to LOSC Lille, where his market value rose significantly. From Lille, he secured a high-profile move to Sevilla FC in La Liga, with subsequent loan spells at Norwich City in England’s Premier League and CD Leganés in Spain. Later returns to France with FC Metz and Angers SCO preceded his first move to China, when he joined Shanghai Shenhua.
Over that journey he has featured in Ligue 1, La Liga, the Premier League and now the Chinese Super League, giving Chongqing Tonglianglong a player accustomed to different tactical demands and competitive environments. His history of top-level experience contrasts with his current valuation of €650k, reflecting both his age and the natural evolution of his career from European peak to Asian challenge.
For Chongqing Tonglianglong, the signing adds a seasoned presence in a key area of the pitch and a player with a proven record of adapting to new leagues and clubs. For Amadou, the confirmed transfer underlines his commitment to extending his career abroad, with the Super League now the stage on which he will look to reassert his influence as a defensive midfielder in the latter phase of his playing days.
