What happened to the 10 highest-paid players in Chinese Super League history
It might feel like a lifetime ago for some of you reading this, but once upon a time, the Chinese Super League was the go-to destination for those who wanted to earn life-changing money.
Even at the height of their careers, some of the biggest names in football went to play in China, including Hulk.
The Brazilian forward became the most expensive signing in Asian football history in the summer of 2016, when he left Russian side Zenit St Petersburg to join Shanghai SIPG for around £46 million.
Around that time, the Chinese Football Association announced plans to become a "world football superpower" by 2050.
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But five years later, after the majority of their well-paid players departed for pastures new, the Chinese Super League introduced salary caps in an attempt to "curb money football" and provide an "investment bubble" in China's national team.
China's top-flight would cap foreign players' annual salaries at around £2.7 million per year, and Hulk decided against renewing his Shanghai SIPG contract.
So, who else earned big money during their time in China, and what are they doing now?
Marouane Fellaini
Fellaini left Manchester United in February 2019 to join Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng, now known as Shandong Taishan.
The Belgian midfielder, who reportedly earned around £205,000 per week at the club, was one of the longest-serving foreign players from that transfer influx in 2019. He made over 100 appearances for Shandong across a four-year period.
Fellaini announced his retirement in February 2024.
Eder
Eder joined Jiangsu Suning from Inter Milan in 2018 for €5.5 million.
He was reportedly handed a contract worth £213,000 per week, but the striker soon justified that hefty wage after helping Jiangsu to the Chinese Super League title in 2020.
The 39-year-old announced his retirement in 2024 following spells at Empoli, Sampdoria, Inter Milan and Sao Paolo.
Paulinho
Paulinho joined Guangzhou Evergrande from Tottenham in June 2015 for around £9.9 million and was one of the first high-profile players to play in the Chinese Super League.
The Brazilian midfielder signed a four-year deal with Evergrande worth a reported £230,000 per week.
In his first two seasons at the club, he lifted consecutive Chinese Super League titles and played a key role under former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
He went on to join Barcelona from Evergrande in 2017 for £36.4 million, but returned to China less than 12 months later. He retired in September 2024.
Stephan El Shaarawy
El Shaarawy joined Shanghai Shenhua from Roma in 2019 for a reported fee of £13.7 million. He reportedly earned wages of £247,000 per week.
It was hardly a productive spell in China for the Italian winger. He only made 19 appearances across an 18-month spell, but helped Shanghai to a historic Chinese FA Cup in 2019, scoring in the second leg of the final against Shandong Luneng Taishan.
He returned to Roma in 2021 and still plays for the Serie A side.
Graziano Pelle
Pelle left Southampton to join Shandong Luneng in the summer of 2016.
He is said to have earned £263,000 per week across his three-year spell, but unlike many others, enjoyed a productive spell in China's top flight. He scored 63 times in 133 appearances before joining Parma in 2021. He retired a short time later at the age of 35.
Hulk
As previously noted, Hulk joined Shanghai SIPG from Zenit St Petersburg in 2016 for a reported fee of £45 million. He is said to have earned £320,000-a-week in wages across his four-and-a-half year spell in China.
The 39-year-old Brazilian now plays in his home country for Atletico Mineiro.
Cedric Bakambu
Bakambu, who had been making a name for himself at Villarreal, turned down a host of Premier League clubs to join Beijing Guoan on deadline day in 2018.
The DR Congo international went on to score 58 goals in 87 games for Beijing and helped them win the Chinese FA Cup in 2018. He is said to have earned £341,000 per week in wages across his three-year spell at the club.
He currently plays for La Liga side Real Betis.
Oscar
Oscar joined Shanghai SIPG, now known as Shanghai Port, from Premier League side Chelsea in 2017. He was reportedly offered a salary of more than £500,000 per week.
He was arguably the biggest name to join China's top flight and proved to be one of the league's greatest ever players. He made 144 appearances for the club, scoring 44 times, before leaving in 2024.
The midfielder made around £175 million in wages during his time in Shanghai, according to The Mirror. He decided to retire at the age of 34 due to heart abnormalities.
Carlos Tevez
Tevez joined Shanghai Shenhua in 2017 from Boca Juniors, but lasted just seven months in what he later described as a "holiday".
He was called out for being "overweight" by Shanghai Shenhua manager Wu Jingui and was told he was not available for selection until he was fit.
Speaking to TyC Sports after joining Boca Juniors, he said: "It's fine, because I was on vacation for seven months. When I landed in China, I wanted to return to Boca."
How much did Tevez earn while playing in the Chinese Super League? It was reported that the striker earned a staggering £634,000-a-week while at Shenhua, making him one of the highest-paid players in the world at the time.
Tevez retired in June 2022.
Ezequiel Lavezzi
Lavezzi left Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain in February 2012 to join Chinese Super League side Hebei China Fortune, who are said to have handed out a contract worth an eye-watering £798,000 per week.
If those numbers are indeed correct, then Lavezzi picked up £41.5 million a year in the CSL.
The Argentine scored 35 goals in 75 appearances for Hebei. He retired in 2019.
Topics: Chinese Super League
Jack Kenmare