sport news How signing China star Wu Lei has proved a marketing masterstroke for Espanyol 

FORTY MILLION viewers for his 12-minute debut, 20,000 extra social media followers and over 2,000 shirts sold in 48 hours… how signing China star Wu Lei for just £1.8m has proved a marketing masterstroke for Espanyol Espanyol signed China star Wu Lei for £1.8million in the January transfer window Wu Lei came on for 12 minutes to make his debut against Villarreal last Sunday Forty million people tuned in to watch his short cameo in the 2-2 draw His appearance also had a huge impact on social media for the Spanish side 

By Sam Mcevoy For Mailonline

Published: 22:42 GMT, 7 February 2019 | Updated: 22:42 GMT, 7 February 2019

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As Gonzalo Higuain and Frenkie de Jong completed their big-money moves in the January transfer window, you'd be forgiven for not noticing Espanyol's signing of Wu Lei.

In a move that flew under the radar last month, the Chinese Super League star completed his £1.8million switch to not that much media fanfare but it is now starting to become clear just the impact he could make for the Catalan club.

On Sunday afternoon, the 27-year-old came on to make his debut in the 2-2 draw with Villarreal. However, his 12-minute cameo was astonishingly watched by over 40 million people – just 6.5 million short of Spain's entire population.

Espanyol signed Chinese Super League star Wu Lei for £1.8million in the January window

Espanyol signed Chinese Super League star Wu Lei for £1.8million in the January window

The 27-year-old completed his switch from Shanghai SIPG following an impressive season

The 27-year-old completed his switch from Shanghai SIPG following an impressive season

The

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