What does the list of the 10 highest paid footballers in the Chinese Super League look like?

Many great footballers from leading European clubs did not hesitate to move to the Chinese Super League when they were offered interesting salaries. Let’s take a look at the ten highest paid footballers in the history of the league.

In the last decade, Chinese clubs have started spending crazy money to bring in big names that are known all over the world. They didn’t hesitate to overpay players and offer them astronomical salaries.

One of the first players who decided to move to China was Carlos Tevez. He was snapped up by the Shanghai Shenshua team. A year later, a transfer record fell in the Chinese Super League when Shanghai SIPG bought Oscar.

Chelsea, from where Oscar transferred, received £67 million. Other big names who headed to China mainly for money include Hulk, Lavezzi and El Shaarawy. So who is or was one of the top 10 highest earning footballers in China?

10. Marouane Fellaini – Shandong Luneng – £205,000 a week
9. Eder – Jiangsu – £213,000 a week
8. Paulinho – Guangzhou Evergrande – £230,000 a week
7. Stephan El Sharaawy – Shanghai Shenshua – £237,000 per week
6. Graziano Pelle – Shandong Luneng – £263,000 per week
5. Hulk – Shanghai SIPG – £320,000 per week
4. Cedric Bakambu – Beijing Guoan £341,000 per week
3. Oscar – Shanghai SIPG – £500,000 per week
2. Carlos Tevez – Shanghai Shenshua – £635,000 per week
1. Ezequiel Lavezzi – Hebei China Fortune – £798,000 per week

The highest paid Lavezzi in Europe was a good player, but he was never one of the best players. He earns almost £800,000 a week, while Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo is on £300,000 a week.

Oscar had this to say about his engagement and salary: ”I am being criticised because I went to China. But footballers are like other working people, we want to earn money for our families. I come from a poor Brazilian family and I do it for them. It was the right choice.”

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