China Chinese Football Association Chinese Super League Diego Costa FIFA World Cup Football Shanghai SIPG Wayne Rooney

Chinese Super League clubs face paying 100 per cent tax on foreign player transfers

June 20, 2017

Chinese Super League clubs face paying double for their transfer targets following a proposal to include a 100 per cent tax on all future signings.

The measure, put forward by the Chinese Football Association, is intended to limit the inflated spending of “loss-making” clubs, who have already made expensive acquisitions from Europe’s top leagues.

The new rule should be in force from this week when the mid-season transfer window officially opened.

The CFA said: “Clubs signing players through capital expenditure will be charged the same amount, with the full sum going to the Chinese Football Development Foundation, to train young players, promote social football and soccer charity activities.”

In the previous transfer window, Chinese clubs spent £331m on players. That included Shanghai SIPG spending a reported £60m on Brazil international Oscar from Chelsea, and the £40m Shanghai Shenhua spent on Carlos Tevez.

Premier League stars such as Wayne Rooney and Diego Costa have also been linked with big money moves to the Far East.

China is dedicated to rapidly improving its own footballing infrastructure, and also brought in a rule this year limiting the number of foreign players allowed in a CSL matchday squad to five.

Last month however, CFA vice-president Zhang Jian denied that foreign footballers were harming the development of China’s own talent.

“China’s national team is a problem,” Zhang said. “Obviously we haven’t been very good over the past few years.

“But the Super League is a very important base for the national team and you can notice we’re trying to make our national team much better.”

The Asian nation is also already planning a bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2030.

By Christian Radnedge

China Chinese Football Association Chinese Super League Diego Costa FIFA World Cup Football Shanghai SIPG Wayne Rooney