BEIJING GUOAN
IN Hou Yongyong (Chn; Staebek,
Nor), Kim Min-jae (SKo; Jeonbuk
Hyundai Motors, SKo), Li Ke (Chn;
Brentford, Eng), Zhang Yuning (Chn;
West Bromwich Albion, Eng), Zou
Dehai (Chn; Zhejiang Greentown)
OUT Jonathan Soriano (Spa; Al
Hilal, Sau), Wei Shihao (Chn;
Guangzhou Evergrande)BEIJING RENHA
IN Sone Aluko (Nga; Reading,
Eng, loan)
OUT Benjamin Moukandjo (Cam;
Jiangsu Suning, loan return)CHONGQING LIFAN
IN Adrian Mierzejewski (Pol;
Changchun Yatai)
OUT Seba (Bra; Olympiakos,
Gre, loan return)DALIAN YIFANG
IN Alex Akande (HK; Yanbian
Funde), Emmanuel Boateng (Gha;
Levante, Spa), Marek Hamsik (Slk;
Napoli, Ita), Li Jianbin (Chn; Shanghai
Shenhua), Zhao Mingjian (Chn;
Hebei China Fortune), Zhao Xuri
(Chn; Tianjin Tianhai), Zheng Long
(Chn; Guangzhou Evergrande, loan)
OUT Nicolas Gaitan (Arg;
Chicago Fire, USA), Duvier Riascos
(Col; Universidad Catolica, Chl, loan)GUANGZHOU EVERGRANDE
IN Tyias Browning (Eng; Everton,
Eng); Gao Zhunyi (Chn; Hebei
China Fortune), He Chao (Chn;
Changchun Yatai), Liu Yiming (Chn;
Tianjin Tianhai), Park Ji-soo (SKo;initial success shows how long Chinese
football has been in the doldrums.
SIPG’s sale of such an utterly
irreplaceable hot property was widely
believed to be at the behest of the
Chinese FA, who deemed it beneficial
to the sport’s progression in the country.
And as is so often the case in a league
where off-field matters are so influential,
Wu’s transfer overseas was not the only
display of power politics in the Chinese
close season.
One of the most intriguing
developments over the winter was
the signing of naturalised Chinese
players. In addition to Beijing Guoan
acquiring Yennaris and Saeter, and
Guangzhou’s purchase of Browning,
Shanghai Shenhua signed Alexander
N’Doumbou from Bulgarian top division
side Vereya. The Gabonese international
has a Chinese mother and successfully
gained Chinese citizenship in order to
play as a domestic player.
In a shambolic turn of events, a
story leaked by a journalist on Chinese
social media less than 24 hours before
the first CSL game kicked off, claimed
that no naturalised players would be
permitted to play in the opening two
rounds of the CSL. This was despite the
appearance of Saeter for Beijing Guoan
when they lost 2-0 to Shanghai SIPG in
the season-opening China Super Cup.
Although there was no official CFA
announcement, in what was certainly
not a coincidence no naturalised player
featured in any of the first two games.
As is now a regular occurrence,
supporters and local media complained
bitterly that the CFA had once again
compromised sporting integrity, this time
by having different player eligibility rules
for different matches. Yet the wait for
an official explanation as to why the
restriction was put in place at the last
moment goes on – leading many to
conclude that government interference
was to blame yet again.One of the most intriguing
developments over the winter
was the signing of naturalised
Chinese playersNaturalised...Gabon international Alexander
N’Doumbou will now be known as Qian Jiegei
Opening game...Shenzhen
(in red) beat Hebei
China Fortune 3-1CHINESE SUPER