China's Ma Xiaoxu (9) celebrates her goal against Australia during their Women's Asian Cup final soccer match in Adelaide July 30, 2006. Ma's goal took the match to extra time. At the back is Australia's Rhian Davies.   Chinanews, Beijing, Feb. 28 - Ma Xiaoxu, an 18-year-old football player is moving to the Swedish club Umea IK. She is AFC's Women's Player of the Year, and is regarded as one of China’s best women football players. Ma was expected to sign a contract this week in Sweden.

 

A spokesman for Chinese club Dalian Shide said on Wednesday that Ma's career in Umea IK will not make her miss the Algarve Cup, which opens on March 7 in southern Portugal. China faces the United States on the opening day with the world's top three teams entered in the tournament: Germany, the United States and Norway.

 

Umea, which is expected to sign Ma to a six-month contract, is one of Europe's top women's clubs.