Through Alisports, Alibaba aims to provide more platforms for sports events and matches in China. (Photo : Getty Images)
Brazil international Cristiane will make her move from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to Changchun Dazhong Zhuoyue in the summer on June 30, revealed by the Chinese Women's Super League outfit's general manager Liu You.
Cristiane's cross-continental move from Europe to China is set to make her the world's highest-paid woman footballer, although Changchun did not disclose any financial details regarding the 31-year-old forward's transfer, per Sky Sports.
ECNS reported that Changchun, which finished 3rd in the league last year, released an official statement on their website regarding Cristiane's transfer, saying that the club "will bring us fantastic goals and victories in 2017." She will link up with FC Minsk and Cameroon forward Madeleine Ngono.
A recognized superstar in the Brazil national women's football team, Cristiane has scored 86 goals in her 127 international caps and was the top scorer in both the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympics. Her most recent feat in the international stage is a flying header against China during Rio 2016.
Chinese clubs have gained notoriety in recent times for their propensity to spend huge sums on world-class footballing talent from Europe, with the aim to make China a force to be reckoned with in world football to rival the likes of England, Spain and Germany, per Yibada.
The likes of Carlos Tevez, Alex Witsel, Pato, and Oscar (who recently scored a thrilling debut goal in Shanghai SIPG's AFC Champions League qualifying win against Sukhothai FC), have all been lured to the Far East's promise of riches, characterized by their inflated transfer values and exorbitant wages.
Nonetheless, lavish spending among Chinese clubs has been undercut by no less than the Chinese Football Association, which has since batted for a sustainable form of footballing development focusing on harnessing young talent while putting stricter limits on imports.
With the rise in FIFA rankings being a key goal--China currently sits at a relatively dismal 81st--massive investments across the country's football leagues are expected, with the likes of Cristiane heralding revolutionary changes in women's football in China akin to that of its male counterpart.
