Chelsea star Oscar in £52m China move

By Sami Mokbel | IOL |

Chelsea midfielder Oscar will become the most expensive signing in Chinese football history when he joins Shanghai SIPG in an astonishing £52 million deal next month.

Oscar has fallen out of favour under Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge this season. The 25-year-old has played a total of 11 matches, but has not started in the Premier League since mid-September.

The former Sau Paulo and Internacional midfielder will join up with up his former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas and fellow Brazilian international Hulk when he arrives at the Chinese Super League club.

Hulk joined the side in June for a fee of £47m and a salary of £320,000 per week. Oscar, who Chelsea signed for £19m four years ago, is expected to earn an even higher weekly wage than his compatriot.

The Brazilian pair are not the only high-profile names to have been lured East in recent seasons. Argentine international Ezequiel Lavezzi, Ivory Coast star Gervinho, Italian international Graziano Pelle and Brazil midfielder Ramires are are players who have left Europe’s biggest leages for China while still in their prime.

Oscar and Ramires will also not be the only former Blues plying their trade in China, with Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Demba Ba all still active in the Super League.

It was reveleaed last week that Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez has been offered £400,000 by a Chinese club, while Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney and veteran Chelsea defender  John Terry are also reportedly targets for the government-backed Chinese division.

Oscar leaves Chelsea having won the Premier League, Europa League and League Cup, and twice winning the club’s goal of the season award. Conte is expected to use the cash to revamp his defence.