Top 10 most expensive players in Chinese Super League history

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Former Chelsea, Arsenal and Southampton players feature on the list of the top 10 most expensive players in Chinese Super League history.

As the Chinese Super League continues to steal many headlines during the January transfer window, HITC Sport has taken a look at the 10 most expensive players in the history of the division…

10. Graziano Pelle (£12.97 million)

Graziano Pelle

Graziano Pelle’s move from Southampton to Shandong Luneng was worth £12.97 million in July 2016 (via transfermarkt). He scored five times in 13 games to help his new club narrowly avoid relegation.

9. Gervinho (£15.3 million)

Most Arsenal fans were probably surprised when they heard that their former player Gervinho had cost Hebei China Fortune £15.3 million (transfermarkt) when joining them last year. He has scored three goals in 18 games for the club.

8. Elkeson (£15.73 million)

The Brazilian has been in China since 2013, but it was his move from Guangzhou Evergrande to Shanghai SIPG in 2016 that gives him a place on the countdown as he cost the latter £15.73 million (via transfermarkt). He won three league titles in a row with his former team, while his current side could only finish the 2016 season third.

7. Axel Witsel (£17 million)

The Belgian left Zenit St Petersburg for Tianjin Quanjian for a fee worth £17 million earlier this month (via transfermarkt). His new side were promoted from the second tier last season.

6. Chengdong Zhang (£17.37 million)

The only Chinese representative on this list is Chengdong Zhang, who moved from Beijing Guoan to Hebei China Fortune for £17.37 million (via transfermarkt) earlier this year.

5. Ramires (£23.8 million)

Ramires

It was perhaps only after Ramires’ move to China that the Premier League really started to take notice. The Brazilian was not exactly a key man for the Blues, so the £23.8 million fee that took him to Jiangsu Suning (via transfermarkt) would have come as a major surprise to many.

4. Jackson Martinez (£35.7 million)

After a poor spell with Atletico Madrid, eyebrows were raised when Guangzhou Evergrande paid £35.7 million (via transfermarkt) for the Colombian. His record of four league goals in 10 games hardly suggests that the fee is going to be repaid.

3. Alex Teixeira (£42.5 million)

The attacking midfielder’s move from Shakhtar Donetsk to Jiangsu Suning was worth £42.5 million in 2016 (via transfermarkt). He has made a bright start to life in China with 11 goals coming in 28 games.

2. Hulk (£47.43 million)

After an impressive eight years in Europe, Hulk made the surprising move from Zenit to Shanghai SIPG in 2016 for £47.43 million (via transfermarkt). He has also made a promising start with four goals coming in seven games.

1. Oscar (£51 million)

Oscar

If Ramires’ move made the Premier League take notice, it was perhaps Oscar’s £51 million switch to Shanghai SIPG (via transfermarkt) that confirmed what a threat the Chinese Super League is. Despite the eye-watering figure, it is difficult to imagine that it would top the list if the list is compiled in a year.