China’s effort to become a football powerhouse has reached a new level.
On Wednesday, the premiere Chinese football club Guangzhou Evergrande paid $45.8 million to sign Atletico Madrid striker Jackson Martinez — a record transfer price for the burgeoning Chinese Super League.
Martinez, a 29-year-old Colombian, was signed to a four-year contract and will begin training with the Club next week in Dubai.
The deal, which Evergrande announced via Twitter, is the latest in a string of high-profile transfers made by CSL teams in recent weeks.
Jiangsu Suning FC recently signed the 28-year-old Brazilian international Ramires from Chelsea for a reported $28.5 million, while Shanghai Greenland Shenhua signed Colombian star Fredy Guarin from Inter Milan for a reported $14 million.
Last June, Evergrande also signed Brazilian star and former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paulinho for $14 million.
The high-profile and high-priced transfers signal that China is dedicated to making a name for itself on the global football stage.