bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Jonathan White

Seven-time Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande have re-signed Brazilian striker Elkeson from Shanghai SIPG, Chinese media have reported.
Elkeson has reportedly agreed a €10 million (US$11.2 million) annual salary to return, up from €6 million in Shanghai.
The former Botafogo forward has been in China since 2012 and is widely believed to be among the next players to naturalise as a Chinese citizen.
That would make him eligible to represent China, as Marcello Lippi’s side begin their quest to qualify for the 2022 Fifa World Cup. He was called up to a Brazil squad in 2011 but did not play.




The Brazil-born striker had indicated he was open to changing to Chinese citizenship in an interview with the Oriental Sports Daily earlier this year.
“I might consider a formal invitation. If the conditions are right, then why not?” he said.

The move would allow him to be registered as a domestic player for Fabio Cannavaro’s side and move the club a step closer to their goal of fielding an all-Chinese side by 2020.
Evergrande, twice winners of the AFC Champions League, have been drawn against last year’s winners Kashima Antlers in the quarter-finals. Elkeson’s former team Shanghai SIPG have drawn 2017 winners Urawa Red Diamonds.
Chinese media have reported that it is unclear whether Elkeson can be registered for the continental competition, which he won twice with Evergrande in 2013 and 2015. Elkeson scored vital goals in the 2013 campaign and netted the winner in the 2015 final.

Chinese media reveal that CFA are accelerating the legal procedures to guarantee Elkeson eligible to play for China in the 2nd round of the 2022 WC qualifying (Sep.). It is also revealed he even has got his Chinese name: Ai Jisen (艾吉森), like a Cantonese translation of Elkeson. pic.twitter.com/GjVQiYS5SB
— Titan Sports Plus (@titan_plus) June 10, 2019

It is expected to be a busy transfer window for China’s most successful side.
They have also reportedly agreed to sign Fernandinho from Chongqing Lifan, another Brazilian who is soon to be eligible to naturalise based on residency. Fernandinho joined the CSL side in 2015 and will be able to become a Chinese citizen, and play for the national team, next year.
They have also been linked with a move for Aloisio of China League One side Guangdong Southern Tigers, another Brazilian who would meet the residential eligibility.

Cannot imagine the scenes after Evergrande signs Chongqing SWM's Fernandinho as a naturalized Chinese player. The Guangzhou club really takes their full-Chinese squad plan seriously, through naturalization pic.twitter.com/ZNTqVEJWWs
— Yixin Li (@FRsoccerYixin) June 28, 2019

There has been speculation that the Chinese FA has forced the sale to allow Guangzhou Evergrande to meet their stated ambition of playing an all-Chinese team.
If Elkeson does naturalise, it will further the view that the Guangzhou side are a de facto national team within the domestic league.
Elkeson was CSL golden boot in 2013 and 2014. He is the highest scoring foreigner in league history and won the title three times with Evergrande and again last season with SIPG.
The Brazilian was sold to SIPG in 2016 with the move announced as being for “national glory”.

“For the purpose of supporting Chinese teams to compete in the AFC Champions League, and for national glory, we agreed Elkeson’s transfer to Shanghai SIPG club,” said a club statement.
SIPG have distanced themselves from the current trend among Chinese clubs to naturalise foreigners.
Beijing Guoan’s Nico Yennaris became the first naturalised footballer to represent China when he made his debut last month.

While Yennaris and teammate John Hou Saeter were naturalised because of their Chinese heritage, Shandong Luneng have since naturalised Pedro Delgado, a player who neither has Chinese ancestry nor meets the residency requirements as laid out by Fifa.


Hong Kong striker Orr linked with Shanghai Port, city teammate Yue signs for Beijing Guoan

Team bus of CSL leaders Beijing Guoan seized over debt issues, players forced to hire bikes

Fans in China voice anger as club play hours after striker Boupendza’s death

Footballer dead in China after fall from building, Gabon FA says

Chinese Super League

Elkeson joining Guangzhou Evergrande from Shanghai SIPG ahead of naturalisation to play for China

Elkeson celebrates with Shanghai SIPG teammates in the 2017 AFC Champions League. Photo: AFP

This photo taken on April 14, 2019 shows Nico Yennaris (top), also known as Li Ke, of Beijing Guoan celebrating with teammate Renato Augusto after scoring during their Chinese Super League match against Henan Jianye in Beijing. - Nico Yennaris was born in working-class east London, played with Harry Kane at Arsenal as a boy and is an England youth international. (Photo by STR / AFP) / China OUT

Shanghai SIPG's Elkeson drives the ball during the AFC Champions League round of 16 football match Shanghai SIPG against Jiangsu Suning FC in Nanjing, on May 31, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / STR / China OUT

===PHOTO CAPTURED FROM INTERNET=== Pedro Delgado holds a shirt featuring the Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng's badge and the China flag. Photo: Sina Sports

Chinese Super League fixtures, results and standings for the 2019 season

Shanghai SIPG celebrate winning the Chinese Super League 2018. Photo: AFP

Chinese Super League: Is Pedro Delgado the ‘first non-Chinese’ player to naturalise?

Pedro Delgado holds a shirt featuring the Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng's badge and the China flag. Photo: Sina Sports

Pedro Delgado

China to naturalise Elkeson and Goulart? New look could be on the way for World Cup hopefuls after Marcello Lippi’s return

Shanghai SIPG Brazilian forward Elkeson is being linked with the Chinese national team. Photo: AFP

(190111) -- ABU DHABI, Jan. 11, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Head Coach Marcello Lippi of China react before the 2019 AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 group C match between China and the Philippines in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jan. 11, 2019. China won 3-0. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Sport

Football

China

Brazil-born striker expected to become a part of Marcello Lippi’s national set-up ahead of World Cup qualifiers
Chinese Super League’s top-scoring foreigner could fire nation’s quest to qualify for Qatar 2022


Brazil-born striker expected to become a part of Marcello Lippi’s national set-up ahead of World Cup qualifiers


AFC Champions League

Chinese Football Association (CFA)