Chinese FA Keeps CSL Transfer Levy In Place For Winter Window

The Chinese FA "warned Super League clubs that spending limits put in place during the summer remain for the winter transfer window" -- which ends on Feb. 28 -- in a letter circulated on Thursday, according to Michael Church of ESPN.com. Clubs in the top two divisions in China were warned in June that any transfer fee over 45M yuan ($6.9M) for foreign players and 20M yuan ($3.1M) for domestic players would be subject to a 100% levy "if the purchasing club was deemed to already be in debt." That move "resulted in a cooling of the transfer market for Chinese clubs." The CFA said, "In order to maintain a healthy transfer market and the steady development of Chinese football, the Chinese Football Association has decided to extend the decision made on the adjustment of fees made in the 2017 summer transfer window." Speculation "has mounted in recent days that several clubs will spend heavily in the current window as they gear up for the season" (ESPN.com, 1/4).