In pictures: Which stars are part of the Chinese Super League?

Mikel is one of China’s latest acquisitions, with the holding midfielder confirming his move to Tianjin TEDA on Friday

The former Saints man moved to China for £13m in the summer, following his Italy performances at the European Championships.

The Argentinian winger moved to Hebei for £400,000 per week at the start of 2016. Made his name with Napoli alongside Edinson Cavani and Marek Hamsik

Guarin joined the Chinese Super League in January last year, with the Colombia international moving from Inter Milan to Shenhua, where he reportedly earns 11m euros per year.

The Brazilian midfielder joined the exodus to China last January for £25m. After 125 Premier League appearances, and five and a half years with the Blues, he was sold to China for £5m more than he was purchased for.

Chelsea’s most recent Brazilian export to the Chinese Super League, Shanghai SIPG quite remarkably splashed £52m on the out-of-favour Oscar, who will earn £400,000 per week.

Teixeira was highly touted for a move to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool last January, but lo-and-behold the Chinese mega money spoke again, and the Brazilian moved for a stunning 50m euros from Shakhtar Donetsk.

The former Spurs midfielder moved to China in 2015 for a fee around £10m.

Gulum, formerly of Besiktas, made the move to Hebei in February, for less than 10m euros. A bargain by current standards!

Ah yes, the perennial mercenary. Tevez has never been one to turn down a gigantic payday and despite vowing to end his career in Argentina, he has opted for one more big contract in China – where he will become the world’s highest paid player on £610,000 per week.

The former QPR man, and Cameroon captain, made his move to Hebei at the end of January last year.

Ivory Coast international Gervinho probably wasn’t missed when he traded London for Rome. Still, the winger’s decision to opt for a place in China over the Champions League was a strange one, especially for an 18m euros transfer fee.

Ba made his name in the Premier League with West Ham and Newcastle, and had a stint in west London with Chelsea. The Senegalese forward was sold to Shanghai Shenhua for £11m by Besiktas in June 2015 – making him one of the first few former Premier League players to ply their trade in the far East.

The enigmatic Cisse will always be remembered for his physics-defying screamer at Stamford Bridge for Newcastle. Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep his prolific form up and was duly sold to Shandong Luneng.

Surely one of the strongest players in world football, Hulk’s physique certainly drew comparisons with his comic namesake. The Brazil international made his name at Porto before moving to Zenit St Petersburg, and was bought by Shanghai SIPG for a mammoth £46.1m.

Kakuta. The man Chelsea took a transfer embargo for signing improperly. The French winger was loaned out six times in as many years at Chelsea, and only made six league appearances for the Stamford Bridge club. He moved to Hebei in February 2016 from Sevilla.

The Brazilian midfielder played for Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk between 2005-2011 before returning to Brazil. He was then sold to China in December 2015.

Striker Martins moved to Shanghai last year, and has already proven to be a relative success, with nine goals in 26 league appearances.

Belgian midfielder Witsel moved to Tianjin Quanjian just two days ago, for a wage reported to be in the region of £300,000 per week.