VIENNA, AUSTRIA - AUGUST 19:  Christopher Dibon of Vienna (L) competes for the ball with Alex Teixeira of Donetsk during the UEFA Champions League: Qualifying Round Play Off First Leg match between SK Rapid Vienna and FC Shakhtar Donetsk on August 19, 2015 in Vienna, Austria.  (Photo by Christian Hofer/Getty Images)
China aspires to be football powerhouse
01:22 - Source: CNN

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China's Jiangsu Suning sets new transfer record with Alex Teixeira deal

Earlier this week, Guangzhou Evergrande paid $45.8 million for Jackson Martinez

CNN  — 

The record transfer fee set by a Chinese football club earlier this week has already been broken.

Jiangsu Suning will pay around $56 million for Brazilian striker Alex Teixeira, currently with Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk.

That’s $10 million more than leading club Guangzhou Evergrande paid to sign Atletico Madrid striker Jackson Martinez earlier this week – and a new record price for the burgeoning Chinese Super League (CSL).

Shakhtar has “agreed on all the necessary formalities for the transfer of Alex Teixeira to the Chinese club,” it said in a statement.

The striker is expected to join Jiangsu, coached by former Chelsea defender Dan Petrescu, in time for the start of the new CSL season in March. He will team up with compatriot Ramires, who signed for $36 million last month.

Big spenders

Teixeira’s arrival is the latest in a series of big moves by Chinese clubs, which have been spending lavishly as they add to their squads following the closure of Europe’s transfer window on Monday.

Chinese clubs, which forked out nearly $150 million before the end of January, can sign players until February 26.

Signing foreigners is nothing new for China’s clubs, which have been operating under a 4+1 policy (four internationals plus one Asian Football Confederation player) since the league was formed 12 years ago.

In the past, foreign players to have arrived in China have largely been either untested youngsters or experienced players past their prime such as former Chelsea star Didier Drogba, who had an underwhelming season at Shanghai Shenhua before departing for Turkey.

Now however, European sides are increasingly finding themselves outbid for top talent by Chinese clubs. Liverpool had attempted to sign Teixeira, only for the Ukrainian side turn down their reported offer of $50 million and accept more from Jiangsu.

Corrects to make clear that China transfer window closes on February 26 and that 4+1 policy is four internationals plus one Asian Football Confederation player.