Shanghai United F.C (Chinese: 上海联城足球俱乐部) was a Chinese professional football club based in Shanghai, who last played in the 16,000 seater Yuanshen Sports Centre Stadium in the Chinese Super League. The club was founded by Dalian Shide F.C. on 1 February 2000 and was originally known as Dalian Sidelong. The club was initially used as youth team who were allowed to compete in the Chinese football league pyramid until the club was eventually sold to businessman Zhu Jun, the owner of China's second-largest online gaming company The9 in 2005. He moved the club to Shanghai until 2007 when he bought a majority share of inner-city rivals Shanghai Shenhua, thus began to merge the two clubs. Shanghai United no longer exists in name and is replaced by Shanghai Shenhua.
In 2004, Zhuhai Zobon F.C. played in the Chinese Football Association Jia League. When they won promotion to the Chinese Super League, their owners, Shanghai Zobon Real Estate Co., moved the team from ZhuhaitoShanghai, and renamed it to Shanghai Zobon F.C.. After the 2005 season they were again renamed to Shanghai United F.C..
Before the 2007 season, Zhu Jun bought a majority share in the in-city rival Shanghai Shenhua, thus began to merge the two clubs. Shanghai United no longer exists in name and is replaced by Shanghai Shenhua. The new Shenhua team combines players from the two original teams. Due to the merger, there are only 15 teams in the CSL.
