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Agence France-Presse

Brazilian midfielder Ramires on Wednesday moved from Chelsea to Jiangsu Suning for a reported US$35 million, making him the biggest ever signing by a Chinese club.
Chelsea said a “permanent transfer” for the 28-year-old had been agreed, without giving details of the fee. British media said Jiangsu had paid at least US$35 million.
The Ramires deal is a new sign of the financial power of Chinese football clubs in the international transfer market.
According to a Fifa report released last week, China was the sixth biggest transfer spender in 2015 and the biggest outside the major European leagues in England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France.
The US$168 million spent by Chinese Super League clubs in 2015 was 68 per cent higher than for 2014 and observers said the Ramires transfer is a sign the record will be smashed again this year.
Ivory Coast striker Gervinho moved from Roma to Hebei Fortune in another major move from Europe to the east.

Ramires joined Chelsea from Benfica in 2010 and won the Champions League and the Premier League in 251 appearances for the London club during which he scored 34 goals.
He was a favourite under Jose Mourinho but has struggled to get a game in recent months.
Ramires famously scored the goal – a chipped shot over Victor Valdes – that got Chelsea back into the game in their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona in 2012.
Chelsea went through to the final on away goals but the Brazilian also got a yellow card and was suspended for the win over Bayern Munich in the final.
The Chinese club, based in Nanjing, already have a host of foreign players and their current coach is another former Chelsea player, Dan Petrescu.
Jiangsu won the Chinese FA Cup last year under Petrescu and in December were bought for a reported US$80 million by Suning Commerce Group one of the mainland’s biggest privately owned retailers.


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Football Soccer - Manchester United v Chelsea - Barclays Premier League - Old Trafford - 28/12/15 Chelsea's Ramires and Manchester United's Cameron Borthwick Jackson Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Football Soccer - Manchester United v Chelsea - Barclays Premier League - Old Trafford - 28/12/15 Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink talks with Ramires Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Ramires’ signing by Jiangsu is reported to be the biggest by a Chinese club. PhotoReuters

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