The winter transfer window is open for Chinese Super League clubs and there has been a flurry of rumours and confirmations of players moving around the Middle Kingdom.
Some clubs announce new player signings as soon as they happen, while others have a tendency to wait until the last minute and announce all or most of their signings in one go.
That makes discerning confirmed transfers and those simply rumoured or reported a challenge for some clubs.
That includes Beijing Guoan, who appear to have signed former Changchun Yatai captain Serginho even though there has been no official announcement so far.
The soon-to-be-naturalised midfielder has been photographed in Guoan apparel since arriving in the capital earlier this month, being greeted by fans at the airport before undergoing medical checks with the team.
There has, however, been no confirmation that the purported £1.2 million move has taken place. It is expected to simply be a formality, however, and may be down to his naturalisation status and the impact that would have on Beijing’s registration of him.
One team that has been very active, meanwhile, has been Chengdu Rongcheng.
Finishing third the past two seasons, Chengdu are determined to challenge for the title this season and they have moved quickly to add four domestic players to their ranks.
They have brought in goalkeeper Liu Dianzuo, who has a wealth of experience and a winning pedigree with both Guangzhou FC and Wuhan Three Towns – winning the Chinese Super League with both.
Joining him is former Guangzhou teammate Liao Lisheng, with the midfielder moving from Shandong Taishan.
Defenders Han Pengfei (Tianjin Jinmen Tiger) and Yuan Mincheng (Changchun Yatai) have also arrived in the central Chinese city and look to bolster a team that believes it is close to pushing for silverware.
Staying in central China, He Chao moves from Wuhan Three Towns to Henan.
The former Changchun Yatai and Guangzhou FC midfielder will be looking to maintain his regular playing time and with Wuhan’s difficult financials, it makes sense for him to move to an established middle table team where he can have a positive impact.
League newcomers Dalian Yingbo have also been active in the transfer market, and have added genuine quality to their ranks in the former of Swiss striker Cephas Malele, who arrives after two strong seasons playing for Shanghai Shenhua.
Along with him is Zakaria Labyad, who moves from Yunnan Yukun, last year’s China League One champions, giving Dalian some much-needed strength through the middle in their debut top tier season.
Also in the Northeast, Changchun Yatai are working through a rebuild under head coach Xie Hui – parting ways with many from previous regimes, particularly under Chen Yang.
Norwegian striker Ohi Omoijuanfo, capped a handful of times for his country, has been confirmed as joining the team by Brondby – the Danish club he most recently played with.
He has been training with the club in Haikou and featured in their opening pre-season friendly this week.
A number of domestic players have been rumoured/linked with moves to Yatai also. Shanghai Shenhua winger Zhou Junchen is reportedly joining the team on loan, Shanghai Port’s Li Shenyuan has effectively returned to the club after a hugely successful loan spell in 2024, midfielder Xu Yue (Shijiazhuang Gongfu), winger Fang Hao (Beijing Guoan), Zhao Yingjie (Cangzhou Mighty Lions) and even Hong Kong international Yue Tze Nam (Meizhou Hakka) hav been rumoured – with varying degrees to likelihood.
And Shanghai Shenhua, who came so close to the 2024 league title, have started off with three domestic signings to strengthen their squad for 2025.
Wang Shilong and Wang Hanlong have joined from Guangzhou FC, but the biggest name so far has been the signing of Li Ke (Nico Yennaris).
The China international will bring strength and aggression in midfield and could partner well with the likes of Jiang Shenglong, who is often deployed as a CDM – or allow him to sit back and partner Zhu Chenjie in defence more often.
Many moves are expected before the season begins on February 21st and it has already started to roll along.