Bridge crosses to China

Sydney FC striker Mark Bridge has joined Chinese outfit Tianjin Teda on a four-month loan deal to play with the Super League team during the upcoming Asian Champions League.

Sydney FC striker Mark Bridge has joined Chinese outfit Tianjin Teda on a four-month loan deal to play with the Super League team during the upcoming Asian Champions League.

The 23-year-old is already in China and underwent a medical exam on Tuesday.

He will rejoin the Sky Blues at the start of July.

“It’s a great opportunity for Mark and we are confident that the experience he will gain over the coming months will benefit not only him, but Sydney FC when we begin our next Hyundai A-League campaign later this year,” said Sydney chief executive Stefan Kamasz.

Bridge looks set to make his debut for Tianjin when the Champions League kicks off next month and is likely to line up against Australia’s Central Coast Mariners in the second match of the competition on March 18.

Tianjin have been drawn in Group H, which also includes Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale and South Korea’s Pohang Steelers.