The fate of the 10 highest-paid contracts in Chinese Super League history.
From the paradise of money to the decline of the 'money-driven football' empire, let's look back at the career paths of superstars like Oscar, Tevez, and Lavezzi.
There was a time when the Chinese Super League (CSL) was considered the "promised land" for footballers, where life-changing contracts were easily signed. With ambitions to become a world football superpower by 2050, clubs in China spared no expense in luring numerous stars in their prime from Europe.
However, this money "bubble" quickly burst. After five years of reckless spending, a salary cap of around £2.7 million per year for foreign players was implemented to curb the financial race. Below is a look back at the fates of 10 players who once enjoyed the highest salaries in the history of this league.
The paradoxes named Tevez and Lavezzi
At the top of the list isEzequiel Lavezziwith an insane salary of £798,000 per week (£41.5 million per year) at Hebei China Fortune. Despite receiving the highest salary in history, the Argentinian striker still left a significant mark professionally with 35 goals in 75 matches before retiring in 2019.
The complete opposite is the case ofCarlos Tevez(£634,000/week). Joining Shanghai Shenhua in 2017, Tevez became the worst signing in CSL history. He was heavily criticized for weight gain and lack of professionalism. After 7 months, the striker fled back to Boca Juniors and bluntly called his trip to China a "vacation".
Dedication and the end of icons
OscarHe is the greatest and most enduring star in the history of the league. Giving up his peak at Chelsea in 2017 to earn over £500,000 a week, the Brazilian midfielder played 144 games for Shanghai Port. He amassed an estimated fortune of £175 million before being forced to retire in 2024 at the age of 34 due to heart problems.
Besides,Marouane Fellaini(205,000 pounds/week) also left a professional image at Shandong Taishan. After more than 100 matches, the former Man Utd star officially retired in February 2024, ending a long and arduous journey in the country with the world's largest population.
Stars rediscover themselves in Europe
Not everyone chooses to retire in China.Paulinho(230,000 pounds/week) is proof of maintaining peak performance, having been recruited by Barcelona from Guangzhou Evergrande. After returning to China and retiring in September 2024, he is still remembered as one of the best foreign players.
Meanwhile,Stephan El Shaarawy(247,000 pounds/week) had a lackluster time at Shanghai Shenhua with only 19 appearances. He quickly returned to AS Roma in 2021 and is currently still playing in Serie A.
Statistics on the salaries of CSL superstars.
| Player | Salary (Pounds/week) | Current status |
|---|---|---|
| Ezequiel Lavezzi | 798,000 | Retirement (2019) |
| Carlos Tevez | 634,000 | Retirement (2022) |
| Oscar | > 500,000 | Retirement (2024) |
| Cedric Bakambu | 341,000 | Match (Real Betis) |
| Hulk | 320,000 | Match (Atletico Mineiro) |
The decline of the Chinese Super League has left a costly lesson about developing football on an unsustainable financial foundation. When the money disappears, the true value of the league gradually becomes apparent, leaving China's dream of becoming a football powerhouse still unfulfilled.
