China welcomes $56 million blockbuster

Liverpool's number one target this winter is striker Alex Teixeira, who will join Jiangsu FC.

Teixeira is the most expensive contract of the winter transfer market. Photo: Reuters.

Shakhtar Donetsk have agreed to sell the 26-year-old striker to Jiangsu for $56 million.

This is the latest expensive contract in the Chinese championship and the second blockbuster for Jiangsu. This team recruited Ramires from Chelsea last month for 36 million dollars.

The Teixeira deal immediately broke the record for the most expensive contract in Chinese football, set just two days ago. Guangzhou Evergrande spent $46 million to buy Jackson Martinez.

Teixeira was once a perfect pair with Douglas Costa, Bayern's new star. Photo: Reuters.

Teixeira was linked with Liverpool during the January 2016 transfer window but the Anfield club decided not to spend more than $45 million on the striker. Shakhtar had previously said they would reject Liverpool's $36 million offer.

This season, Teixeira has scored 22 goals in 15 matches in the Ukrainian championship and 26 goals in all competitions for Shakhtar.

The Teixeira deal shows the financial strength of the Chinese league when they are willing to spend money to recruit stars at the top. The winter transfer market in China will end on February 26 and new blockbusters are expected to happen.

According to VNE