THREE HIGHLY talented teenage footballers have arrived in the UK as the result of a history making televised talent search in China.

More than 130 million people tuned in to watch the first ever joint venture UK/China TV football talent search.

The prize for 18 year old Song Yang was a one-year development contract with Bolton Wanderers.

Henan-born Jin Hui and Zhao Zhihao won similar contracts with Everton and Nottingham Forest respectively.

Around 18,000 young players registered for the Soccer Prince show, which was created by UK companies, Kickworldwide and FremantleMedia.

The reality show, which ran for 19 weeks on Hunan TV, one of China's most innovative and successful broadcasters, was approved by both the English and Chinese Football Associations.

As well as assisting with grassroots football development in China, Soccer Prince has provided three young footballers with the opportunity to develop a professional football career, assisted by three of the UK's biggest clubs.

The three have the opportunity to become key role models for the young people in China.

All three have made encouraging starts at their respective clubs.

At Bolton Wanderers, Academy Welfare Officer Fran Walsh, commented: "Song Yang (Alen) is very talented. If he was a local boy, he would undoubtedly have been signed by the Academy. He is very popular with his peers and is making good progress with the English Language. He clearly has a bright future ahead of him."

Everton Academy Director, Ray Hall, is pleased at the way Jin Hui has settled down at the club "Jin has settled well socially and culturally. He seems to be enjoying his time in the Academy Lodge, and is also enjoying his football. We look forward to assisting with Jin's Development both on and off the field."

The Academy Director at Nottingham Forest, Nick Marshall, is equally pleased by his clubs Chinese acquisition, Zhao Zhihao (Joe), "Joe is technically very good and has a permanent smile on his face. He has become very popular with the coaches and his team mates and we will do all we can to ensure that he has a bright future. Our hostel landlady, Chris, has described Joe as a ray of sunshine in the house, we are delighted to have him at Forest."

A second series of Soccer Prince will be broadcast in China later this year and the show is expected to be rolled out across the globe.

Kickworldwide Director Steve Bellis, who has vast experience in China, says that choosing the right partner clubs is the key to success for Soccer Prince:

"It is imperative that the prize for winning the show is real! The Chinese media will follow the experiences of the winners of the first show and it is essential that the clubs are genuinely intent on providing the boys with a real opportunity to develop their football ability. In Everton, Bolton and Forest, this is certainly the case. All three have developed strong relations in China and are serious about assisting football development in the country.

"The brand profiles of all three clubs has been significantly enhanced by the Soccer Prince show, which has been a national success!"