Football
Michael Church, Asia correspondent 6y

Chinese FA keeps CSL transfer levy in place for winter window

Chinese football authorities have warned Super League clubs that spending limits put in place during the summer remain for the winter transfer window -- which ends on Feb. 28 -- in a letter circulated on Thursday.

Clubs in the top two divisions in China were warned in June that any transfer fee over RMB 45 million for foreign players and RMB 20m for domestic players would be subject to a 100 percent levy if the purchasing club was deemed to already be in debt.

That move resulted in a cooling of the transfer market for Chinese clubs, who had previously spent huge sums on transfer fees and wages to lure the likes of Hulk, Oscar and Carlos Tevez to the league.

"In order to limit clubs' behaviour and their desire to pay a premium price for foreign players to achieve short term targets," the governing body said. "And in order to maintain a healthy transfer market and the steady development of Chinese football, the Chinese Football Association has decided to extend the decision made on the adjustment of fees made in the 2017 summer transfer window."

Anthony Modeste was the only high profile move to China during the summer transfer window, with the French striker joining Tianjian Quanjian from Cologne on a long-term loan deal.

Speculation has mounted in recent days that several clubs will spend heavily in the current window as they gear up for the season, which will kick off in early March.

Beijing Guoan have been heavily linked with the €40m purchase of Cedric Bakambu from Villarreal, with the transfer expected to be completed in the coming days.

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