China’s Guangzhou Evergrande signs Jackson Martinez in record $45.8M deal

China’s effort to become a football powerhouse has reached a new level.

On Wednesday, its premier club Guangzhou Evergrande paid $45.8 million to sign Atletico Madrid striker Jackson Martinez – a record transfer price for the burgeoning Chinese Super League.

Martinez, a 29-year-old Colombia international, was signed to a four-year contract and will begin training with the club next week in Dubai.

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China's goal of world soccer domination (2016)

02:16 - Source: CNN

The deal, which Evergrande announced via Twitter, is the latest in a string of high-profile transfers made by CSL teams in recent weeks.

READ: China’s million-dollar dream of soccer world domination

Jiangsu Suning FC recently signed 28-year-old Brazil international Ramires from Chelsea for a reported $28.5 million, while Shanghai Greenland Shenhua signed Colombian star Fredy Guarin from Inter Milan for a reported $14 million.

Last June, Evergrande also signed Brazilian star and former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paulinho for $14 million.

The high-profile and high-priced transfers signal that China is dedicated to making a name for itself on the global football stage.

While Europe’s transfer window shut on Monday, Chinese clubs can sign players until February 26.

Martinez had a brief stint in Spain, scoring three goals in 15 appearances following his $38 million move from Porto in July 2015.

He had been prolific in his three years in Portugal, netting 67 times in the top flight.

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English Premier League clubs have spent more than £1 billion ($1.4 billion) on transfers in a season for the first time, new figures from Deloitte reveal.
The last day of Europe's January transfer window -- this year it was February 1 -- is usually very hectic, but Monday's announcement that Pep Guardiola will take over from Manuel Pellegrini as Manchester City manager at the end of the 2015-16 season arguably trumped any of the player moves.

Jackson Martinez (Atletico Madrid to Guangzhou Evergrande) $45.8 million —

China's transfer window is open until February 26 -- which allowed Guangzhou Evergrande to smash the country's record fee by splashing out on the Colombia forward. The 29-year-old had struggled in Spain after his $38 million move in July 2015 from Porto, where he was a prolific goalscorer in three seasons with the Portuguese team.

Gervinho (AS Roma to Hebei China Fortune) $18 million —

The ex-Arsenal winger is one of several big signings by Chinese Super League clubs. The striker had resurrected his career in Italy's Serie A after a frustrating time in London, and helped the Ivory Coast win the 2015 African Cup of Nations.

Ramires (Chelsea to Jiangsu Suning) $28 million —

The Brazilian's deal shattered the Chinese transfer record. During his time at Stamford Bridge, Ramires made 251 appearances, scoring 34 goals, helping the club to win the English Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Champions League and Europa League. The dynamic midfielder will join up with former Blues defender Dan Petrescu, who manages Jiangsu Suning.

READ: China's millon-dollar dream of soccer world domination

Fredy Guarin (Inter Milan to Shanghai Greenland Shenhua) $13 million —

The Colombia midfielder also joined the Chinese revolution, having scored six goals in 28 Serie A games last season. The former Porto player signed for a club that previously made marquee signings of Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba from Chelsea.

Alexandre Pato (Corinthians to Chelsea) Loan —

Still just 26, Pato was once the most exciting Brazilian wonderkid on the conveyor belt, but his initial promise has been marred by a succession of injuries. Chelsea fans will hope the former AC Milan striker can replicate the form that netted him 10 goals in 27 international appearances -- though they could be forgiven for worrying he will repeat the struggles of Radamel Falcao at Stamford Bridge.

Stephan El Shaarawy (AC Milan to Roma) Loan —

The 23-year-old, seeking to win back his Italy place ahead of Euro 2016, returned to Serie A on a $2 million loan deal with an option to join Roma permanently for a further fee of $14.2 million. His season-long loan at Monaco was cut short when French club decided not to seek a permanent deal.

Mohamed Elneny (Basel to Arsenal) $10.7m —

The 23-year-old is the first senior outfield player to sign for Arsenal since Gabriel Paulista in January 2015. He won three Swiss Super League titles with FC Basel, and has 39 caps for Egypt. The defensive midfielder made more passes than anyone on the pitch during his Arsenal debut against Burnley.

Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City to Newcastle) $16 million —

Precociously talented, naggingly inconsistent, the 23-year-old England international has switched Premier League teams with his best years ahead of him, but opinion divided. He initially impressed at the Welsh club following his 2013 move from Liverpool, but was a peripheral figure in midfield this season.

Andros Townsend (Tottenham to Newcastle) $17.1 million —

Hoping to regain his England place for Euro 2016, the winger has ended a 16-year stay at Tottenham, where he had been a fringe player this season after an argument with the team's fitness coach in November.

Alberto Paloschi (Chievo to Swansea City) $11.4 million —

The former Italy under-21 and AC Milan striker provides some much-needed firepower for a Swansea team seeking to stay in the EPL. Now 26, he has reunited with his former Parma coach Francesco Guidolin in Wales.

Seydou Doumbia (Roma to Newcastle) Loan —

The dynamic Ivory Coast international will hope to end struggling Newcastle's search for a top goalscorer. Though he was loaned back to CSKA Moscow after failing to impress in Serie A, his record in Russia -- 66 goals in 108 league games over two spells -- shows his pedigree. Doumbia's career goals-per-game ratio in the Champions League -- netting 16 times in 22 matches -- puts him up there with greats like Gerd Müller, Ferenc Puskás, Lionel Messi and Eusébio in Europe's top club competition.

Emmanuel Adebayor (Unattached to Crystal Palace) Free —

Crystal Palace signed a player with undoubted Premier League pedigree, albeit one who hasn't quite lived up to his promise. If manager Alan Pardew can get the best out of Togo's ex-Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City striker, the ambitious London side might challenge for a European place after falling off the pace in recent weeks.

Marko Grujic (Red Star Belgrade to Liverpool) $7.4 million —

Jürgen Klopp's first signing as Liverpool manager, the 19-year-old is a FIFA Under-20 World Cup winner and has scored five goals in 22 games for Serbian Super Liga leader Red Star Belgrade this season. The Serbian midfielder was also wanted by Anderlecht and Stuttgart but agreed a four-year contract, and returned to Red Star until July 1.

Timm Klose (Wolfsburg to Norwich) $12 million —

Having struggled to win a regular place at the German club, the Switzerland center-back, 27, has been given a chance to impress in the team with the second-worst defensive record in the English Premier League.

Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers to Southampton) $5.1 million —

The English striker joined Southampton in a cut-price deal, having scored 18 goals in his maiden Premier League campaign last season for relegated QPR -- which has now cashed in before his contract expired. The former bricklayer netted the winner against Manchester United on his Saints debut.

Benik Afobe (Wolves to Bournemouth) $13.6 million —

The former England U21 international boosts the striking options of Eddie Howe's Bournemouth side, after the impressive Callum Wilson was ruled out with a cruciate ligament injury in September. The ex-Arsenal scored 23 goals in 48 appearances for second tier Wolverhampton following his permanent move from the Gunners in January 2015, and has netted twice in his first three games for the Cherries.

Henri Saivet (Bordeaux to Newcastle) $6.1 million —

Steve McClaren boosted his midfield options with the signing of the versatile 25-year-old. A major player for France from under-16 to under-21 level, he then chose to play for Senegal and appeared at the 2015 African Cup of Nations.

Juan Iturbe (Roma to Bournemouth) Loan —

The latest in a long line of touted heirs to Lionel Messi's footballing throne, the diminutive Argentine winger moved from Hellas Verona to Roma for $25 million in 2014. Having been largely used as a substitute by the Serie A side in recent months, the 22-year-old arrived at the English Premier League club with a point to prove.

Nordin Amrabat (Malaga to Watford) $8.3 million —

The 28-year-old played at top clubs such as PSV Eindhoven and Galatasaray before moving to Malaga in Spain and now Watford, one of the surprise teams in the English Premier League. Capped at under-21 level by the Netherlands, the striker has since played senior international football for Morocco, winning 23 caps.

Steven Naismith (Everton to Norwich) $12 million —

The Scotland forward scored 25 goals in 123 appearances for the Toffees -- including a memorable hat-trick against José Mourinho's Chelsea this season. The former Rangers striker netted on his Norwich debut in a 5-4 defeat against Liverpool as he bids to help the club avoid an immediate return to England's second tier.
Read more: Naismith's charitable deeds

Steven Caulker (Queens Park Rangers to Liverpool) Loan —

Liverpool signed the 24-year-old center-back after a series of injury setbacks in defensive areas. The one-cap England international spent the first half of the season on loan at Southampton, having previously played in the EPL with Tottenham, Swansea and QPR.

Victor Valdés (Manchester United to Standard Liege) Loan —

Having been frozen out by United manager Louis van Gaal, the former Barcelona keeper is hoping to revive his career in Belgium. The three-time Champions League winner will be relieved to be playing again, after what he called "eight months alone" at Old Trafford.

Emmanuel Emenike (West Ham to Fenerbahce) Loan —

Seeking to qualify for next season's Champions League, West Ham manager Slaven Bilic bolstered his forward options by signing the powerful Nigeria international, with an option for a permanent deal.

Éder (Sampdoria to Inter Milan) Two-year loan —

The Brazil-born Italy international striker has scored 12 Serie A goals this season; only Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain has more. The 29-year-old's loan deal came with a fee of $2 million.

Giannelli Imbula (FC Porto to Stoke City) $26.3million —

Imbula, pictured vying with Ramires, became Stoke City's record signing -- joining the EPL team for $26.3m. The 23-year-old midfielder put pen to paper on a five-and-a-half year contract, having only joined Porto seven months ago from Marseille. "I would say he is a Patrick Viera type ... a real driving force in there and perfect for the Premier League," said Stoke's Charlie Adam.

Leroy Fer (Queen's Park Rangers to Swansea City) Loan —

The Dutch international midfielder joined the Swans on deadline day from Championship club, QPR. Fer has previously played for Norwich City, as well as Eredivisie sides FC Twente and Feyenoord. Though he's twice faced relegation from the Premier League, Swans fan will be hoping the 26-year-old can boost their goal threat given the South Wales club are the second lowest scorers in the league this season.

Oumar Niasse (Lokomotiv Moscow to Everton) $19.4 million —

Everton moved to replace the departing Steven Naismith with Senegal forward Oumar Niasse. Niasse, 25, scored 13 in 23 appearances this season before the move, and was enthused by the prospect of playing under the Everton manager, Roberto Martinez. "I was interested to see how they play," said Niasse. "If you see players who are aged 20 or 21 and see them perform like that, you know you have a good coach."

January transfer window 2016: Soccer's best deals

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