PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Cedric Bakambu - Congolese star makes debut after completing complicated transfer

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Monday Mar 05, 2018. 16:00

DR Congo international Cedric Bakambu's move to Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan was finally confirmed last week.

Bakambu joined Guoan from Spanish La Liga club Villarreal and he became the most expensive African player (£73 million) overtaking Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£60 million).

This was after a lengthy transfer standoff due to the new rule made by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) that requires clubs to pay 100% transfer tax for overseas players.

Guoan general manager Li Ming revealed how the club secured the services of the 26-year-old forward, who was born in France.

"The transfer process itself was very complicated and then we had to decipher and assimilate the new rules of the federation to know how to respond,” Li said on a statement.

"We had an appropriate arrangement with the federation."

Bakambu made his competitive debut against Shandong Luneng, who beat Guoan in their first game of the 2018 Super League season.

Luneng thrashed Guoan 3-0 at the Jinan Olympic Sports Center Stadium on Sunday with Bakambu playing the entire game.