The European transfer window is not so European any more, with Chinese clubs outspending the continent’s richest clubs in January to prove that the country is now a genuine power in attracting the world’s best players.
Chinese spending on soccer had been growing impressively in recent years, but has soared to unexpected heights at the start of 2016 with the domestic transfer record repeatedly broken.
The three biggest deals worldwide have all been made by Chinese clubs, eclipsing spending by European sides in their recent transfer window.
Jiangsu Suning made the biggest deal by signing Brazilian midfielder Alex Teixeira from Shakhtar Donetsk for $56 million on Friday, trumping the $47 million that Asian club champion Guangzhou Evergrande paid to Atletico Madrid to acquire Colombian striker Jackson Martinez. Jiangsu also spent $31 million to sign midfielder Ramires from English champion Chelsea.
With the Chinese transfer window open until Feb. 26, there’s mounting media speculation about which other players will soon join the exodus to the east.