PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Cedric Bakambu - Third party paid for Congolese's China transfer?

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Monday Jan 22, 2018. 16:00

The DR Congo international recently completed his big move to Chinese club Beijing Guoan from Spanish side Villarreal.

This was after Guoan, who campaign in the Chinese Super League, agreed to pay Bakambu's €40million release clause.

Beijing Evening News have since reported that a third-party company paid the €40million necessary to trigger player's release clause.

As a result, Guoan were able to sign him up on a "free" transfer according to China Sports Insider reporter Mark Dreyer.

This is said to be a bold move to skirt Chinese Football Association (CFA)'s transfer tax.

Last year, the CFA announced that any Chinese Super League club that pays more than £5.2million for a player transfer must pay the same amount to a CFA youth development fund.

The CFA are yet to respond with Villarreal having confirmed that the 26-year-old is now a Guoan player last week.