The City Football Group (CFG), owners of Manchester City, are set to announce the purchase of the Chinese third-tier club Sichuan Jiuniu, according to multiple reports, writes, www.sportspromedia.com/.

A press conference has been called by the club for 20th February involving CFG, seemingly confirming the announcement.

CFG, the soccer club ownership group owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, a member of the ruling family in Abu Dhabi, has been seeking to invest in a project in China since it sold a 13-per-cent share worth £265 million (US$400 million) to domestic equity groups China Medical Capital (CMC) and CITIC Capital in December 2015.

That stake will be reportedly be invested in soccer club Jiuniu, who play at the 42,000-seat Longquanyi Stadium and were founded in 2006 after former Chinese Super League (CSL) side Sichuan Guancheng were disbanded.

The investment would become CFG's seventh soccer club, adding to a diverse portfolio that also includes New York City and Melbourne City in addition to the reigning Premier League champions.

As part of its expansion into China, CFG opened an office in Shanghai in March 2016 and then a hub in Shenzhen last year. They oversee the development of Chinese soccer players and also helped finance the launch of a youth academy in Beijing.

City also expanded their Chinese esports presence last year by becoming the first Premier League club to launch a FIFA Online team in China.

The investment is set to be CFG's seventh in a soccer club, adding to a diverse portfolio that also includes New York City and Melbourne City, in addition to the reigning Premier League champions.