Wu Lei celebrates with teammates. (File photo: People's Daily)

BEIJING, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese men's soccer team announced a 24-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Maldives here on Saturday.

Wu Lei, who plays for Spanish La Liga club Espanyol, and other 11 players from the Chinese Super League's Guangzhou Evergrande and Shanghai SIPG will join the national team and coach Marcello Lippi as they take on Maldives.

Guangzhou Evergrande striker Elkeson, who became the first player without Chinese heritage to be called up for international duty, is on the team list for China's visiting against Maldives next Tuesday.

Following is the squad:

Forwards: Wu Lei, Elkeson, Yang Liyu, Wei Shihao, Yang Xu, Zhang Xizhe

Midfileders: Zheng Zhi, Wu Xi, Hao Junmin, Chi Zhongguo, Xu Xin, Li Ke, Yao Junsheng

Defenders: Zhang Linpeng, Wang Gang, Zhu Chenjie, He Guan, Gao Zhunyi, Li Lei, Li Shuai, Shi Ke

Goalkeepers: Yan Junling, Wang Dalei, Zhang Lu