24 December,2016 09:58 AM IST | | AFP
Chelsea's Oscar said he was looking forward to joining his new family after Shanghai SIPG sealed terms on what will be China's fifth Asian-record signing in less than a year
Brazilian footballer Oscar
Shanghai: Chelsea's Oscar said he was looking forward to joining his "new family" after Shanghai SIPG sealed terms on what will be China's fifth Asian-record signing in less than a year.
The 25-year-old Brazil midfielder, snared for a reported £60 million (70.5 million euros), becomes just the latest top player in his prime lured to the mega-rich Chinese Super League. He is due to finalise the deal in Shanghai in the "coming days", said the Chinese club, which is coached by manager Andre Villas-Boas.
"I'm very happy to sign to SIPG. This is an important day for me to join to my new family in China in the coming days," Oscar said in a video statement released by SIPG. As well as Asia's record signing, Oscar will also become Chelsea's biggest sale, beating compatriot David Luiz's £50 million move to PSG in 2014.
Chinese Super League clubs have already splashed out more than $400 million on players this year, after President Xi Jinping laid out a vision of turning the country into a football power. Chinese teams broke the Asian record three times in just 10 days in the January-February transfer window, and moved it still higher when Brazil's Hulk joined SIPG for 55.8 million euros in July.
Significantly, Chinese clubs are now competing with European rivals for world-class players, who are opting for China's astronomical pay packets over the chance of a career in football's top leagues.
