PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Cedric Bakambu - Beijing Guoan yet to officially announce DR Congo star

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Monday Feb 05, 2018. 16:00

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) risks ‘losing control’ if Bakambu’s transfer tax controversy is swept under the rug.

This is according to a report on the South China Morning Post as mllions of dollars are at at stake as Beijing Guoan are yet to officially announce the signing of the striker.

The DR Congo international’s protracted €40 million (US$49.6 million) move from Spanish La Liga side Villarreal to Guoan is said to be a litmus test of Chinese football’s 100 per cent transfer tax and could have ramifications from Spain to England and beyond.

It is almost three weeks since Villarreal confirmed that they had sold Bakambu to Chinese Super League (CSL) side Guoan, who are yet to officially announce his signing and the deal is reportedly mired in uncertainty and confusion.
It is said that Guoan could be in talks with the CFA about pushing the transfer through without having to pay the CFA’s punishing levy.
Last year, CFA stated that they would slap a 100 per cent tax on incoming transfers worth over 45 million yuan (US$7 million). They were worried about an influx of well-paid foreigners.