Chelsea confirm £60million Oscar sale to Shanghai SIPG

Mark Scott
Oscar: Set to earn huge wages in China

Oscar: Set to earn huge wages in China

Chelsea have announced they have agreed terms with Shanghai SIPG for the permanent transfer of midfielder Oscar, who will join the Chinese Super League team at the beginning of the January transfer window.

The 25-year-old will join the Chinese Super League side at the beginning of the January transfer window after four-and-a-half years with the Blues.

During that time the Brazil international has won the Premier League, Europa League and League Cup but, more recently, he has found his chances limited under new boss Antonio Conte.

A fee has not been announced by the Premier League side but the deal is understood to be around £52million, with Oscar reportedly earning £400,000 a week.

A statement on Chelsea’s official website read: “We thank Oscar for his wonderful service and wish him the very best of luck for the future.”

Oscar will join former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas at Shanghai SIPG and is the latest big name to move to China.

Ex-Blues striker Demba Ba is at Shanghai Shenhua while Graziano Pelle swapped Southampton for Shandong Luneng in July for a reported £13million.

Ramires, Gervinho, Hulk and Ezequiel Lavezzi have also been tempted to head to the Far East and more could follow in January.

Chelsea manager Conte has recently spoken of the “danger” posed by the big-spending Chinese Super League sides, who now boast the financial clout to outmuscle Premier League rivals.

Speaking last week, before the Oscar deal was officially announced, he said: “The Chinese market is a danger for all teams in the world; not only for Chelsea but all teams in the world.

“But I think that we must be concentrated on our work. I think that this league is fantastic and to play in this league is a great opportunity, a great honour.

“You must be very proud to play in this league. Because I think now it’s the best league in the world.

“For this reason, I don’t worry about this.”