Following hot on the heels of Ramires and Jackson Martinez, Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Alex Teixeira has become the latest European-based star to head to the China according to widespread reports, with Super League side Jiangsu Suning reported to have snapped up the Brazilian for a whopping £38million.
The attacking midfielder was strongly linked with a move to Liverpool in January only for Shakhtar to turn down an apparent £25million offer from the Merseysiders. But now, courtesy of a hefty £38million bid from Jiangsu Suning, who are managed by ex-Chelsea star Dan Petrescu, the 26-year-old is headed to the far East.
Teixeira will link up with compatriot Ramires, who sealed his own £25million move from Chelsea last month, as Chinese football starts to really flex its financial muscles.
Still, one wonders if we are witnessing the birth of a new footballing superpower, at least in terms of its domestic leagues, or will China end up just another place where over-the-hill or unmotivated stars go to further feather their own already well-feathered feathery beds?