In the 2017 winter transfer window, the Chinese Super League outspent the English Premier League by USD422 million compared to $315 million. A year on, England or Spain is set for the top spot and Chinese soccer officials are perfectly happy.
Alarmed by the amount of money heading into the pockets of foreign players, clubs and agents, authorities in Beijing moved to slow down the market and it seems to have worked.
“The relative lack of spending in the Chinese transfer window reflects the ongoing moderation of the market for players by China’s state authorities,” Simon Chadwick, professor of Sports Business at Salford University in the United Kingdom, told The Associated Press. “Following several high-value deals over the past two years, several regulatory interventions were made.”
The two most influential came into effect in 2017. Just before the season started in March, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) reduced the number of foreign players that could be named in a matchday roster from five to three, reducing demand. In June, a so-called ‘transfer tax’ was introduced which stipulated that any club which was in debt and was signing a foreign player, had to pay an amount equal to the transfer fee in a soccer development fund.
Last summer’s transfer window was especially quiet with the only signing of note that of French striker Anthony Modeste joining Tianjin Quanjian for $43 million in July. So far this winter window, there has also been a lack of big moves, despite plenty of rumors.
Earlier this month when it was reported that Beijing Guoan and Guangzhou Evergrande were engaged in a bidding war for Pierre-
Emerick Aubameyang of Borussia Dortmund, that could cost $86 million, the CFA reminded the clubs of the rules.AP
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