Squad no: 17
Date of birth: 30/09/1977
Place of Birth: Dalian, China
Position: Defender
Height (ft): 5.09
Weight (st): 12.08
International Caps: 61
International Goals: 0

Defender Sun Jihai, though in his native China his name is reversed his surname being Sun, had been a target of City's for several months before the Chinese international spent a week training with the City squad before agreeing the switch from his home club of Dalian Wanda in February 2002.

This is Sun's second spell in English football having previously spent a couple of seasons at Crystal Palace before returning to China.

He made eight appearances for the Blues in his first season and was a member of the China squad in the 2002 World Cup. But the defender had little chance to impress on the world stage after he picked up an ankle injury in the first game and had to sit out the rest of China's campaign which ended at the group stages.

Jihai then became the first Chinese player to score in the Premiership when he headed home the first City goal in their 2-0 win over Birmingham in October 2002. It was the first match in which he had played right wing back for the club. He continued with impressive displays in that role denying Shaun Wright-Phillips a place in the side.

He scored his second of the season for the Blues at Sunderland in early December during the 3-0 win.

With the arrival of Danny Mills at the start of the 2004/05 season the China international found himself acting as a utility player with roles in midfield. But in the 1-0 win over Chelsea in October 2004 his season was cruelly cut short.

Playing for the first time in a central midfield role due to injuries to Claudio Reyna and Joey Barton he was injured in a tackle with Eidur Gudjohnsen that damaged his cruciate and medial ligaments in his left knee.

Completed his rehab and returned to training by the end of the season without mishap. Went home to China in the close season and followed a specially designed training programme to build his fitness before returning for the start of the 2005/06 season.

After a steady season for the popular utility man was rewarded with a two-year extension on his City deal at the start of May 2006.

Unfortunately for Jihai he was unable to play on City's pre-season visit to his homeland after picking up a hamstring injury, but this did not stop him being mobbed at the airport on arrival or from being the focus of much local media scrutiny.