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Oscar, Graziano Pelle, Ramires and more – how are former Premier League players faring in China?

Marouane Fellaini has become the latest Premier League player to move to China.

The Manchester United midfielder sealed a £10million move to Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng on Friday.

The Belgium international will be team-mates with ex-Southampton talisman Graziano Pelle.

talkSPORT.com takes a look at how other former Premier League players are faring in China, below


Graziano Pelle – Southampton to Shandong Luneng (£12million), July 2016

Pelle scored 30 goals in a prolific two-year spell for Southampton and was a fan favourite. His decision to join Shandong Luneng made him the fifth highest paid footballer in the world at the time.

The former Italy striker earns around £13million-a-year.

Pelle has brought his goalscoring form to China, netting 28 league goals in 63 games.  His 16 goals helped Shandong Luneng to a third-placed finish last season.


Javier Mascherano – Barcelona to Hebei China Fortune (free), January 2018

Mascherano’s Hebei China Fortune finished in sixth place in a disappointing season last year.

The former Liverpool midfielder, who won 18 trophies with Barcelona, will be hoping for better luck when the new season kicks off in March.

The 34-year-old’s only goal has come in a Chinese FA Cup match against Pelle’s Shandong Luneng.


Oscar, Chelsea to Shanghai SIPG (£60million), December 2016

Oscar, 27, is arguably the most talented footballer playing in China. He made the move to the Far East just 18 months after winning the Premier League with Chelsea.

At the time, explaining his reasoning behind the move, he said: “I thought more of my family than my career”.

The Brazilian has been a huge hit. He scored 12 goals and registered 18 assists as Shanghai SIPG won their first Chinese Super League title last season.

Oscar is reportedly earning £400,000-a-week.


Odion Ighalo, Watford to Changchun Yatai (£20million), January 2017

Ighalo struggled for goals in the latter stage of his Watford career and moved to Changchun Yatai.

He has rediscovered his goalscoring touch in China, finding the net 36 times in 55 league games.

Changchun Yatai suffered relegation from the Chinese Super League last season, but Ighalo still managed to score 21 goals in 28 games.


Ramires, Chelsea to Jiangsu Suning (£25million), January 2016

Ramires moved to China just one month after his Chelsea team-mate Oscar completed his big money transfer.

The 31-year-old, who played as a defensive midfielder for the Blues, has scored 11 goals in 49 league appearances.

Jiangsu Suning finished fifth in the Chinese Super League with Ramires captaining them on occasions.


Paulinho, Tottenham to Guangzhou Evergrande (£9.9million), June 2015 and Barcelona to Guangzhou Evergrande (£36.8m), January 2019

Tottenham fans were celebrating Paulinho’s departure after his lacklustre two-year spell at White Hart Lane.

His performances for Guangzhou Evergrande earned him a shock move to Barcelona in 2017. The Brazilian won La Liga and the Copa del Rey in the 2017/18 season.

But he oddly rejoined Guangzhou Evergrande on loan last July and made a permanent £36.8million move at the beginning of the January transfer window.

Playing in midfield, Paulinho has scored 30 goals across two spells for Guangzhou Evergrande.

Alexandre Pato, Villarreal to Tianjin Quanjian (£15.5million), January 2017

Pato, who used to be one of the most highly-rated youngsters in football, endured a dreadful loan spell at Chelsea in the 2015/16 campaign.

He made just two appearances and scored once from the penalty spot.

The former AC Milan striker moved to Villarreal and once again struggled for form before joining Tianjin Quanjian.

He has been one of the most prolific strikers in China, scoring 30 goals in 47 appearances.

Brown Ideye, Olympiacos to Tianjin Teda (£10.5million), January 2017

West Brom broke their club-record transfer fee when they signed Brown for £10million in 2014. He failed to live up to expectations and moved to Olympiacos a year later.

Brown turned his career around in Greece, but it derailed after joining Tianjin Teda. He scored just four goals in his debut season and was loaned to Malaga last year. His contract runs out this summer.

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