English soccer’s top-tier Premier League (EPL) has opened an international office in the Chinese capital of Beijing.

This facility joins the 20-team league’s existing overseas offices in Singapore and New York.

The league has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Chinese Football Association governing body.

Prior to Covid, EPL teams regularly visited China for pre-season fixtures, while Wolverhampton Wanderers are majority-owned by China’s Fosun International conglomerate.

In terms of media rights deals, the EPL is covered in that country by a combination of iQiyi, streaming service Migu, and China Central Television.

Richard Masters, the league’s chief executive, said: “We and our clubs have an incredible fanbase in China and opening an office in Beijing marks an exciting step as we continue to build on our popularity and strengthen our relationships with fans and partners.”

The league’s first international office was opened in Singapore five years ago, while the office in New York was opened in July 2023, with the EPL bringing in Akash Jain to run it.

In terms of the other major European leagues, meanwhile, Spain’s LaLiga has two offices - in Beijing and Shanghai - located in China.