Beijing, March 21  Chinese international footballer Wu Lei has tested positive for the novel coronavirus with mild symptoms and has been in self-isolation at home in Barcelona, Spain.

A source confirmed this information to Xinhua news agency on Saturday.

Wu, who plays for La Liga's Espanyol, is the only Chinese player from one of the top five major European football leagues.

He is the first Chinese professional footballer to be tested positive for COVID-19, which has claimed over 11,000 lives across the world.

"Wu has mild symptom and now isolates himself at home in Spain," the source said.

Espanyol have confirmed on Wednesday that six members of the club staff have tested positive for the coronavirus, but didn't reveal the names of the players who have been infected.