Portugal Division One side Belenenses have signed Gabon international Merlin Tandjigora from Chinese League One club Meizhou Hakka.

The announcement, on the club’s website, did not give details of the 20-year-old’s deal.

Born in Port-Gentil Tandjigora is a graduate of the National Football School located in hometown.In early 2009 he became the first player from the academy to sign a proffesional contract with a European club after signing a contract with Metz.

Tandjigora has won 5 caps for the Gabon national team and played for both Metz, where he spent two years, and Stade Mandji.

The midfielder shot to prominence during nation’s under-20 team 2009 African Youth Championship campaign.He was called up to senior team for the first time in 2009 by coavh Gernort Rohr for matches aganist Oman and Saudi Arabia.

However, he struggled to make an impact with Meizhou Hakka, and was finally released from his contract this summer after playing only 35 times for the club in all competitions over three years.