In the summer of 2002, following China's participation in the World Cup, a significant news story emerged: Li Tie and Li Weifeng joined Everton. Although not a top Premier League team, Everton is an established club, and the acquisition of two Chinese players was seen as a direct result of the World Cup effect.
Sponsorship by Kejian
Kejian Company bought out Everton's chest advertising for two years at a cost of 2 million pounds, with an additional clause stipulating the introduction of a Chinese player (or two, one being a starter). This clause seemed unusual, but Everton had limited options. As a mid-to-lower table Premier League team, Everton's strength and commercial value fell short of their local rivals, Liverpool. Manager David Moyes already had plans to select cost-effective Asian players, so there was no conflict between his intentions and the sponsorship deal. Moyes himself scouted during the group stage of the World Cup, evaluating players.
While Kejian provided the key to Everton, it cannot be said that Li Tie and Li Weifeng's move to the Premier League was solely due to Kejian's influence.
Selection Criteria
From a pool of over twenty Chinese national team players, Moyes would not choose veterans or newcomers; he preferred players in their prime. This meant that experienced players like Fan Zhiyi and Zhang Enhua, who had previously played abroad, were not top choices due to their age. The selection narrowed down to players like Li Tie, Zhao Junzhe, and Xu Yunlong. Moyes urgently needed a defensive midfielder to partner with Thomas Gravesen, making Li Tie the top choice. Everton's midfield required extensive defense to counteract attacks, and Li Tie's relentless energy allowed him to cover the entire midfield, complementing Gravesen's more aggressive style. However, Li Weifeng faced intense competition at Everton, with Stubbs and Weir as starters and Yobo waiting in the wings, leaving Li Weifeng without any advantage. The reality is harsh; even top Asian central defenders struggle to become starters in lower-tier Premier League teams. To this day, few Asian central defenders have managed to secure starting positions in the Premier League due to inherent disadvantages in strength, speed, and explosiveness.
Why Both Players?
If Li Weifeng wasn't needed, why did he join Everton too? This involves two companies, Kejian and BIRD. BIRD, the sponsor of Liaoning at the time, was initially reluctant to let Li Tie go. Kejian, associated with Li Weifeng's team and based in Shenzhen, had existing connections, leading to Li Weifeng's signing when Liaoning hesitated. As a sponsor, Kejian could not be openly defied by Everton, who might not use Li Weifeng if necessary. After Li Weifeng's loan, circumstances changed. Moyes explicitly stated his desire for Li Tie, the only one fitting his tactical needs. Despite being known as "the eternal wronged" Moyes, he held significant power at Everton, akin to Ferguson's role. Negotiations resumed, with Liaoning's general manager Cheng Penghui directly conversing with Everton's chairman, Carter. The negotiation lasted from 8 PM until 2 AM the next day, essentially finalizing Li Tie's loan for a fee of 300,000 pounds. Cheng Penghui later stated in an interview that Everton showed great sincerity in acquiring Li Tie, including a series of cooperative agreements unrelated to Kejian. This implied that Everton valued Li Tie's abilities, otherwise, why would they be so enthusiastic? The credibility of this statement is left for readers to judge. Notably, the 300,000-pound loan fee was not paid by Everton but by Kejian. That year, Everton's chest advertising revenue was only 700,000 pounds, meaning they did not spend any money on Li Tie's transfer.
First Team and Bench
As mentioned earlier, Li Tie quickly became a regular starter in the new season, forming a double pivot with Gravesen. He was named Man of the Match against Sunderland, satisfying Moyes, who praised his diligence and suitability for the team. Li Tie was smart enough to recognize Moyes' need for coverage, which is crucial for mid-to-lower table teams. His relentless running and constant interceptions aligned perfectly with Moyes' preferences. Additionally, Li Tie knew he lacked dribbling and organizing skills, so he would immediately pass the ball after receiving it from teammates or winning it back, rarely keeping possession, a quality appreciated by Moyes. In the 02-03 season, Li Tie played 33 games across all competitions, accumulating 2,416 minutes, solidifying his status as a key player. Conversely, Li Weifeng struggled, unable to compete with other central defenders and sometimes not even making the squad. Moyes commented that Li Weifeng lacked strong positional sense, highlighting the gap between Asian and European football. Unwilling to languish in the reserves, Li Weifeng decided to return to China at the end of the year, terminating his contract early.
Official Transfer
On August 12, 2003, Li Tie officially transferred to Everton on a three-year contract for a fee of 1 million pounds. The transfer was basically agreed upon in July, so why was the announcement delayed? Simply put, Everton wanted the player without spending money. Unbelievably, Everton eventually found themselves in such a situation. Initially claiming they would only pay 500,000 pounds, Kejian contributed 200,000 pounds, and an ACIG company paid the remaining 300,000 pounds. Kejian did this to extend their advertising contract, while ACIG sought Everton's commercial development rights in China. Even after凑满50万英镑后埃弗顿又说手头紧。李铁经纪人许宏涛又找来“星河传说”公司垫付50万英镑，回报是古迪逊公园球场的几块广告牌。自始至终，埃弗顿都占尽便宜，在李铁身上花的钱，几乎没有带来任何财政压力。
Double Yellow and Shin Guards
On August 16, 2003, in the first round away match against Arsenal, after one of the Gunners was sent off, Li Tie came on as a substitute, with Moyes aiming for a win. However, Li Tie received two yellow cards within seven minutes and was sent off, an action the manager could not accept. Moyes did not even shake hands with Li Tie as he left the field, illustrating the magnitude of the setback. Li Tie was excluded from the squad for the next eight league matches, only returning in the tenth round. Had Li Tie been luckier, he might have had more opportunities at Everton. He continued to receive playing time in subsequent matches against Manchester City, Manchester United, and Arsenal, showing that Moyes had not given up on him. However, a right tibia fracture during training in February 2004, caused by not wearing shin guards, ended Li Tie's career prospects. After Gravesen's departure, Everton brought in Arteta and Davis, leaving no room for Li Tie. In the 04-06 seasons, Li Tie had no opportunities and ultimately had to leave.
Epilogue
Labeling Li Tie's overseas career as purely a product of commercial behavior is clearly unfair. It's hard to believe that a player forced upon the team by sponsors could become a Premier League starter, which doesn't align with the facts. Kejian can be seen as the catalyst, and Li Tie genuinely met Moyes' requirements, resulting in his success. Objectively speaking, Li Tie's ability to run alone was not enough to maintain his position as a regular starter at Everton. A lack of physicality is a significant disadvantage for defensive midfielders in the Premier League. Even without the injury, Li Tie could not have competed with players like Arteta, a fact we must acknowledge. There is still a significant gap between our players and Europe, and Li Tie's one successful season was not easy to achieve.