August 31: Guoan's New Foreign Signing Finally Arrives! Akolo Reaches Beijing as Asian Champions League Push Begins_Switzerland_Season_Democratic Republic of the Congo

Today, according to blogger "Elef Sai," newly arrived Beijing Guoan foreign signing Shadrack Akolo appeared at the team's Juji training base.

The AFC Champions League-specific foreign player, who was officially announced on July 22, had been stranded overseas for 37 days due to visa issues before finally landing in Beijing in the early hours of August 29.

Akolo's arrival story was itself like a rally race. German midfielder Dudziak, announced at the same time as him, holds an EU passport and arrived in Beijing smoothly for training at the end of July. Akolo, however, holds a Democratic Republic of the Congo passport, and his visa approval process encountered repeated complications before he finally departed Geneva on the evening of August 28.

The 37-day wait kept Guoan fans anxious for an entire month.

So what kind of player is this late-arriving forward?

Akolo's full name is Shadrack Akolo Ababa. He was born on April 1, 1995, in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is 172 cm tall, weighs 72 kg, plays as a forward, and can also operate as an attacking midfielder.

He began his professional career at Swiss club Sion. In the 2016-17 Swiss Super League season, he made 34 appearances and scored 15 goals, becoming a standout player. He later moved to the Bundesliga and joined Stuttgart, contributing 5 goals in 38 matches and scoring against Bayern.

After spells with French club Amiens and German second-tier side Paderborn, he returned to Switzerland in 2022 to join St. Gallen. In 118 official matches, he recorded 35 goals and 17 assists, and he became the Swiss Super League top scorer in the 2023-24 season with 14 goals.

Last October, he moved to Vietnamese club Nam Dinh Green Steel and received an offer from Guoan after a brief spell there. At international level, he has made around 26 appearances for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and scored 2 goals.

It is worth mentioning that Akolo arrived in Switzerland across the Mediterranean Sea as a refugee at the age of 14 and was spotted by Sion while training at the FC Bex youth academy. This experience of displacement gives him an unusual understanding of what it means to "join a team." The 37-day wait may have simply been another episode in his journey.

There is indeed little time left for him. With only half a month remaining before the first AFC Champions League Elite match, he needs to quickly adapt to head coach Montgomery's system, build understanding with foreign players such as Fabio, Davan and Conte, and adjust to the pace of Asian football.

Guoan's attacking options have been limited this season, and Akolo's arrival is undoubtedly a boost. His finishing ability and penalty-area instincts displayed during his time at St. Gallen are exactly the attacking reinforcement Guoan needs in the AFC Champions League.

As of publication, Guoan had not officially announced Akolo's arrival in Beijing, and the information was still based on the blogger's on-site observation. Regardless, the Swiss Super League Golden Boot winner is now standing at the doorstep of Workers' Stadium.

Thirty-seven days, one plane ticket, and a journey across Europe, Asia and Africa. Akolo turned waiting into an opportunity. How many minutes will he need to win over demanding Guoan fans? Do you think he can score in his AFC Champions League debut? Share your thoughts in the comments.