The Chinese Super League has had plenty of money sloshing around it for quite a while, but for years had only succeeded in attracting player's near the end of their careers, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka being two of the most high-profile cases.
Things have since changed, however, and the Chinese league is now attracting sought-after players at the peak of their powers. And Paulinho.
Following Guangzhou's €42 million signing of Jackson Martinez from Atletico Madrid on Monday, Jiangsu Suning have confirmed the signing of Alex Teixeira from Shaktar Donetsk for €50 million.
BREAKING: Chinese side Jiangsu Suning agree deal to sign Alex Teixeira from Shakhtar Donetsk for £38m #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/fq72UmeK7D
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) February 4, 2016
Teixeira was subject to strong interest from Liverpool last month, but the deal did not go through as Shaktar's asking price was too high for Liverpool. It was expected that Liverpool would go back in for Teixeira in the summer, but that now looks unlikely.
Teixeira gave an interview expressing his wish to move to England to boost his international prospects, but his move to China shows he was just desperate to leave Ukraine. Teixeira's claims that Lucas Leiva and Phillippe Coutinho were among his best friends in football ring rather hollow now.
Suning are managed by former Chelsea defender Dan Peterescu and last month signed Brazilian midfielder Ramires from Chelsea for €40 million.
No good bemoaning PL clubs losing out on players to new wave Chinese money. China just doing what England's been doing for 15-20 years.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmithTimes) February 4, 2016
