Why local players remain vital for Chinese Super League clubs, despite the huge transfer splurge on foreign stars
As Gao Lin stars for Guangzhou, there’s a ‘bubble’ in the market for homegrown talent
Guangzhou Evergrande moved back to the top of the Chinese Super League table this weekend after beating Tianjin Teda 4-0 and they had Gao Lin to thank. The Chinese forward set up the opening goal for Yu Hanchao before adding a brace to put the game beyond doubt.
It goes to show that for all the money being lavished on superstar foreign signings, the Chinese players remain key for teams who want to win silverware.
Gao is Guangzhou Evergrande’s record goalscorer and is currently top of both the goal and assist charts with five goals and four assists in six league games this season.
The Chinese Super League has rules in place to limit the number of foreigners in a squad and on the field at one time. The 3+1 rule means you can play three overseas players plus one from another country in the Asian Football Confederation.
This has led to a domestic transfer bubble according to Ian Walker, the former Tottenham Hotspur and England stopper who is now goalkeeping coach for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Shanghai SIPG.