The Chinese FA announced that the country will "lower the number of overseas players allowed on domestic teams from five to four in an effort to cool the red-hot market for foreign talent," according to the AFP. Clubs in the "mega-rich Chinese Super League have splashed out" more than $400M on domestic and foreign players this year after President Xi Jinping "laid out his vision of turning the country into a football powerhouse." The CFA said that "only three foreigners from the same team would be allowed to play at any one time." The new rules come a week before the CSL transfer window opens and a day after Shanghai SIPG confirmed it signed Chelsea’s Oscar for a reported €70.5M ($73.7M). The CFA said, "High-level foreign players have brought energy to the CSL and made CSL games more enjoyable, but they’ve created financial burdens for clubs and reduced opportunities for mainland players" (AFP, 12/25). In London, Nicholas Godden reported Chelsea confirmed Oscar will join Shanghai SIPG, in a deal "believed to be worth" up to £60M ($73.7M). The transfer "will go through when the January window opens on New Year's Day." It will be the "highest fee ever received by Chelsea" (LONDON TIMES, 12/23).
