CFA issues transfer-fee threshold

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Shanghai Daily, June 16, 2017
Adjust font size:


Any Chinese Super League or Chinese League One team in debt would have to pay double for a new foreign signing if the player's transfer fee surpasses 45 million yuan (US$6.6 million) starting from this summer, according to a latest notice issued by the Chinese Football Association.

Also, starting from the 2018 season, the number of Under-23 players a club sends out for each match should be no fewer than the number of foreign players.

The notice was issued to all 32 clubs in the nation's top two divisions on Wednesday as the CFA seeks their opinion before formally activating the clauses. They must give feedback by the end of the weekend.

The transfer-fee threshold is aimed at preventing clubs from overpaying when buying new players for short-term achievements, the association had said earlier. Currently, the majority of the clubs in China's top two-tier leagues are in a deficit, and would have to follow the new rule.

Starting from the 2017 summer transfer window, when the transfer fee for a new foreign player surpasses 45 million yuan, the club will have to pay the CFA the same amount of money, which will go into the Chinese Football Development Foundation to support youth players and promote football. The threshold for domestic players is 20 million yuan.

A new foreign signing worth less than 45 million yuan, or a domestic signing no higher than 20 million yuan, will not be affected.

Currently, there are no fewer than 17 foreign players in the CSL whose transfer fee has surpassed the 45-million yuan standard, including Shanghai SIPG's Brazilian duo Oscar and, Hulk, and Shanghai Greenland Shenhua's Argentina international Carlos Tevez and Colombian Fredy Guarin.

Top foreign players — including England-based strikers Wayne Rooney and Diego Costa — though continue to be linked with Chinese clubs.

There are also concerns over the amounts being spent on domestic players, with Manuel Pellegrini's Hebei China Fortune breaking the CSL transfer record in the winter window when signing Beijing Guo'an's Zhang Chengdong for 20 million euros (US$22.3 million).

The CFA move comes as President Xi Jinping met FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Wednesday, pledging to improve the game in his country from basic levels and eventually win a World Cup.

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
ChinaNews App Download
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter