While the Saudi league is drowning in a gold-dollar storm, the Chinese Super League looks like it's just coming out of the frenzy. As the last superstar of the Chinese Super League, Oscar, is waving goodbye, his contract with Shanghai Seaport will come to an end at the end of this month. Oscar's nightmare of extending his contract with Shanghai Seaport seems to have been shattered in the face of a harsher salary cap for the new season. According to the latest news from ESPN Brazil, Oscar has signed an agreement with Sao Paulo FC, signaling his return to the Barclays Premier League.
Oscar's deal to join São Paulo is said to be ironclad, and the two sides are currently negotiating the details of the contract, which has yet to be finalized as to whether it will be for two or three years. It is worth noting that São Paulo will be independently responsible for Oscar's salary as well as the waiver fee, as there are no sponsors to share the salary. In addition, the contract includes bonus clauses related to the team's championships and the number of goals and assists scored by the player.
Oscar started his career in the Chinese Super League in January 2017 when he moved from Chelsea to Shanghai Seaport for a transfer fee of €60 million. During his time with the team, he made 248 appearances, scoring 77 goals and providing 141 assists, helping Shanghai Seaport win three Chinese Super League titles (2018, 2023, 2024) as well as one FA Cup title (2024). The transfer can also be seen as Oscar's return to São Paulo, where he once trained as a youth player.
Oscar, 33, is 1.80 meters tall and active as a right-footed player in midfield, valued at €4 million on the German transfer market. In 29 appearances in the midfield this season, he has contributed 14 goals and 21 assists, with his 21 assists setting an all-time single-season record in the Chinese Super League.
Previous reports have shown that Oscar earns a whopping 24 million euros a year and has accumulated around 160 million euros (1.226 billion yuan) in his seven-year career. Despite the generous income, but Song Chengliang reporter pointed out that the Shanghai seaport for Oscar to provide contract extension annual salary of only 3 million U.S. dollars before tax. Such a huge pay gap makes Oscar's path to the future clear. He is a dedicated and exceptionally strong player.
Farewell, the last shining star of the Chinese Super League - Oscar!
