The Chinese Super League, which has always made headlines for its strong financial prowess, has been trying to get fans of the football world to see the Super League for the past decade, once known as the "sixth biggest league". Many players have decided to abandon Europe's top five leagues in exchange for the cash-rich Chinese Super League.
With the arrival of many exciting European players, the quality of Chinese football has definitely improved, and they have led to the development of the Chinese Super League, with Guangzhou's two AFC Champions Leagues being a stark example.
Let's take a look at the 5 most expensive signings in the history of the Chinese Super League.
5. Martinez - 42 million euros (Guangzhou team)
Atletico are not the kind of team that goes all out for a player, pays for the release clause and lures him away. Most of their approach to transfer issues is shrewd and well thought out.
So Madrid paid Porto £31.5 million as part of Jackson Martinez's release clause in exchange for the player.
But he didn't succeed at Atletico, with Martinez finding himself uncomfortable playing in Diego Simeone's system and unable to get along well with the manager. After about 7 months, he joined the Chinese Super League for a transfer fee of 42 million euros.
He signed for Guangzhou, scoring 4 goals in 16 games, not very efficient, and the goals came from the league. Martinez is a prolific goalscorer for the Porto club, scoring 92 goals for the team in his 132 games.
After playing the season in China in 2016, the Colombian spent several loan spells in Portimonese until his retirement in 2020.
4. Paulinho - 47.5 million euros (Guangzhou team)
Usually, foreign aid to the Chinese Super League will find it a luxury to return to the top five leagues in Europe, but Paulinho is an exception.
In 2015, the Brazilian joined Guangzhou from Tottenham for £12.6 million. Since he first came to Guangzhou, his loyalty there has been strong and they have always had faith in this player.
In two years, he has almost tripled his worth and signed with Barcelona for a transfer fee of £36 million. Paulinho helped the team win the domestic double in his first season at Barcelona and became a key member of Barcelona, scoring nine goals and assisting three times.
In 2018, he returned to Guangzhou again and signed an initial loan agreement with him. Paulinho eventually signed permanently to Guangzhou for a transfer fee of 47.5 million euros, becoming the fourth most expensive signing player in China's top league.
3. Teixeira - 50 million euros (Jiangsu team)
When the news of Teixeira's transfer to the Jiangsu team of the Chinese Super League spread, many people were shocked. Teixeira was chased by Liverpool in 2015 and it was a great opportunity to shine on the Premier League stage.
At the age of 26, Teixeira had not yet enjoyed his peak, he chose the Chinese Super League, which was eventually acquired by Jiangsu for 50 million euros.
Teixeira had a very successful season at Shakhtar Donetsk, scoring 22 goals in the Ukrainian league and 4 in the Champions League, teixeira was well aware that his move to the Chinese Super League would make it difficult for him to be selected for the national team.
As an attacking midfielder, the Brazilian's ability is beyond doubt, and he continues to play his strength in China. In his four years at Jiangsu Club, he made 153 appearances and scored 116 goals.
2. Hulk – €55 million (Shanghai Seaport)
The Chinese Super League likes Brazilian foreign aid because they have a super personal ability to change the game, the same price concessions, and there are high returns.
In 2016, after Hulk established his dominance in Russia at Zenit, he subsequently moved to the Chinese Super League for 55 million euros, the most expensive and a good value for money.
In the 2018 season, he helped his team beat seven-time Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou. He made 25 appearances in China's top league that season, contributing 28 goals, including 13 goals and 15 assists.
The €55 million player left the club in 2020 after irreparable damage to his relationship with coach Pereira.
1. Oscar - 60 million euros (Shanghai Seaport)
Just six months after Hulk became the most expensive player in the Chinese Super League, Oscar surpassed him with a value of 60 million euros.
The midfielder moved from Premier League giants Chelsea to Shanghai Harbour to prop up the team alongside brazilian Hulk. Unlike Hulk, Oscar is still in the Chinese Super League.
In the 2018 Champions League, Oscar provided 22 assists in 29 games in the Chinese Super League. The Brazilian has never been shy about acknowledging that money played an important role in his move to China, but he has been diligent on the pitch.
After Oscar lost his starting spot under Conte in 2016, the Chinese Super League invited him, and it was impossible to refuse. He sees his family's future as more important than his own career, and he does a good job of both in any case.
Oscar has contributed double-digit goals in every season in the Chinese Super League. In 12 games this season, he has scored three goals and nine assists.