The Chinese Super League is currently in the winter window and teams are actively attracting reinforcements. Since all 16 teams are eligible to enter, all clubs can prepare for the game without worrying compared to previous years. Re-upgrading the squad has become an option for most clubs. After all, with the relaxation of the requirements, there will be more opportunities in the 2024 season, and getting a good ranking will benefit the club. The introduction of naturalized players has been in the spotlight since the 2019 season. It wasn't until the addition of Li Ke and Hou Yongyong that the channel for the Chinese Super League to bring in Chinese players began.
Of course, the main purpose of bringing in naturalized players is to improve the strength of the national team. However, judging from the results, the overall strength of the national team did not take a leap, the main reason being related to the employment of the head coach. Moreover, due to formalities, strong players like Golat were not eligible to represent the national soccer team until they finally left. However, top Chinese Super League strikers like Teixeira were eligible for naturalization but unfortunately did not complete the formalities, and the absence of the two strong supporters also deprived the midfield of major support.
The lack of significant improvement in results has caused the outside world to rethink the value of bringing in naturalized players. As naturalized players gradually fade out of the national team, the current transfer market is not popular for these players. Of course there are success stories, such as Harbour's Jiang Guangtai, who has basically held down the starting center back position in the national football team since his naturalization, and was the hero of Harbour's 2022 Super League title. So the players who benefit from the club and the national team remain classics.
Therefore, the door is not closed for the introduction of naturalized players, it's just that clubs need to think for themselves. In this winter window, naturalized players returned to the attention of the Chinese Super League's reinforcements, with Sino-Portuguese mixed-race player Wu Xiaohai attracting the most attention.
Wu Xiaohai, 24 years old, as a wingback, was selected for the Canadian national team, currently playing in Vancouver White Wave, contributing 1 goal and 3 assists in 36 games this season, worth 1.5 million euros, or about 12 million yuan, twice as much as Jiang Guangtai, ranked second in the current national team, Wu Lei's price is only less than 2 million euros, so the value of Wu Xiaohai can be seen.
According to informed media sources, 2 teams in the Chinese Super League (CSL) are currently vying for Wu Xiaohai, who is expected to be the first naturalized new signing in the CSL in 2024. Looking at the transfer rules, whoever makes the highest bid will have a better chance of signing. Once the signing is completed, the 24-year-old Chinese border guard will be expected to represent the national team.
