The eye-watering amount of money Oscar has earned in China since leaving Chelsea

Former Chelsea midfielder Oscar has made a fortune since ditching European football for China eight years ago.

Back in 2016, the lure of the Chinese Super League was too much for some of Europe’s biggest stars to turn down.

The likes of Carlos Tevez, Alexandre Pato, Axel Witsel and Paulinho all moved to China for huge money.

Brazilian forward Oscar, who was only 25 years old at the time, left Chelsea for Shanghai SIPG in a deal worth a reported £60 million.

Since then, Oscar has gone on to make 162 league appearances for the Chinese club, scoring 52 times, as well as lifting the Chinese Super League twice and the Chinese FA Super Cup once.

Back when his move was confirmed, Oscar was reportedly set to earn an eye-watering salary of €24 million per year.

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In December 2019, Oscar renewed his contract for an extra five years, which turned out to be a stroke of genius because a month later, the Chinese government introduced a salary cap of €3 million per year for foreign players.

Oscar was reportedly exempted from the salary cap as he signed his new deal just in time.

Over his seven-year stay in China, he has so far earned more than €175 million in wages alone.

Back in the summer of 2022, Oscar was linked with a move back to his homeland of Brazil, with Flamengo interested.

However, a move never materialised and the 32-year-old stayed in the Chinese Super League.

Speaking to The Guardian back in 2017, Oscar explained his decision to move to China.

He said: “Every football player, or every person who works, wants to earn money to help their families. I came from a social background in Brazil that is very poor. We didn’t have anything.

“This is the fruit of my work and when I earn this, it is because I conquered it. The same way I came here, I will be able to return to Europe. Whatever decision I make, somebody will talk good or bad about it.”

Oscar added: “All the foreign players who come here are at a really high level. China has incredible financial power and sometimes makes offers that players can’t refuse.”

Having scored eight goals and registered 14 assists last season, Oscar's next move is yet to be confirmed, although the midfielder is being tracked by Major League Soccer teams this summer, according to The Athletic.