Abdul-Aziz Yakubu joins Chinese Super League club on free transfer following successful loan

Towering striker Abdul-Aziz Yakubu will play another season in the Chinese Super League after a permanent transfer was agreed between the Ghanaian and Qingdao West Coast.

Qingdao West Coast announce the signing of Abdul-Aziz Yakubu with a new contract offered. In the 2025 season, the Ghanian striker who was signed from J-league side Shimizu S-Pulse on a loan deal scored 10 goals and made 7 assists in 30 CSL appearances. In the CFA cup he scored 2… pic.twitter.com/jizWLZq3Pf

— Titan Sports (@titan_plus) February 2, 2026

Chinese media outlets confirmed the move on Monday, which saw Yakubu join on a free transfer following extended negotiations. The Tamale native impressed for the club last season on loan from Japanese top flight club Shimizu S-Pulse, providing 12 goals and 9 assists in 33 appearances between league and cup action with Qingdao.

The Red Bull Ghana product finished his youth career in Portugal with Vizela before making his first senior appearances with the club in the second and third tiers of Portuguese football.

A loan move followed with Primeira Liga side Vitória de Guimarães during the 2018-19 season, where he spent most of his time with the club’s reserve team while also making one top flight appearance with the senior team. After being permanently acquired by Vitória, Yakubu accumulated 30 goals in 73 appearances during loan spells with second tier clubs Estoril and Rio Ave.

After helping Rio Ave to the Primeira Liga, he completed a full transfer to the club and scored 15 goals in 34 appearances for the club before getting his first experience in China with a loan to Wuhan Three Towns during the 2023 season. He enjoyed massive success with 15 goals in 23 Chinese Super League appearances, also scoring as the club won the Chinese FA Super Cup that year.

His success in China prompted J-League club Shimizu to acquire Yakubu in a transfer reported to be for €1.25 million. After only seven months in Japan, however, the journeyman went on the move again to current club Qingdao after scoring 3 goals in 6 appearances for Shimizu.

After helping Qingdao to a 9th place finish this past season in the Chinese Super League, Yakubu came to an agreement with the club to join permanently after protracted discussions over his salary. The CSL season ended in late November and the striker will experience a full preseason club ahead of the 2026 season’s starting date in March.