Dominating the Top 5 of the CSL Domestic Transfer Chart! "U23 Winter Window": Springtime for Local Talents

By Han Bing The CSL winter transfer window for the new season is set to close at 24:00 on February 27th. All 16 CSL clubs have already secured their full complement of five foreign players ahead of schedule. Yet, the most notable feature of this winter window, compared to the sustained trend of cost-effective foreign signings from last year, is the markedly heightened focus on domestic talent, with a clear concentration on younger players, predominantly from the U23 category.

The impressive performances of Chinese players at the U23 Asian Cup have allowed CSL clubs to recognize their potential, leading to a natural surge in their market value. Unlike previous winter windows where the domestic market focused more on established players in their prime, this year's absolute protagonists are the young players, with U23 internationals at their core.

The top five domestic transfers by fee in this winter window are all young players under the age of 23. Only one player among the top seven is over 23. In contrast, last winter's top 10 domestic transfers included only two U23 players. In a sense, this CSL winter window can be dubbed the "U23 Winter Window."

Ranked by transfer fees listed on Transfermarkt, Yang Xi, a key player for the U23 Asian Cup runner-up team, is the domestic transfer king of the winter window (12 million RMB, from West Coast to Harbor). Bai Helamu (7 million, from Shenzhen Peng City to Chengdu Rongcheng) and He Yiran (6 million, from Changchun Yatai to Chengdu Rongcheng) follow. Xuan Zhijian (6 million, from Yatai to Peng City), who did not participate in the U23 Asian Cup, also made the top five. Adding Yao Haoyang (7 million) and Sun Kangbo (4 million), both under U20, among the top seven domestic transfers, only Fang Hao (5 million, from Beijing Guoan to Zhejiang) is over 23.

The pursuit of domestic players under U23 by various clubs presents a stark contrast to last year. In last winter's window, only Wu Mitijiang (6 million, from Wuhan Three Towns to Harbor) and Huo Shenping (2.4 million, from Guangzhou to Zhejiang) were among the top 10 domestic transfers; the other eight were established players over 23. Last year's domestic transfer king, Wu Shaocong (7 million), was 5 million RMB less than this year's king, Yang Xi. The last time a domestic winter window transfer king commanded a fee reaching the 10 million RMB level was five years ago, in 2021.

The prominence of U23 newcomers in this winter's domestic market is a direct result of the U23 Asian Cup runner-up finish. The highly sought-after U23 internationals available on the market were already scarce. Clubs like Zhejiang, Harbor, Chengdu Rongcheng, and Tongliang Long retained their existing U23 internationals. Shandong Taishan promptly renewed contracts with Peng Xiao, Chen Zeshi, Shi Songchen, and Yimuran until 2030. West Coast kept their impressive goalkeeper Li Hao. Harbor secured Yang Xi with the winter window's top domestic offer. Peng City was reluctant to let go of international Bai Helamu, but with only one year left on his contract and the player's strong desire to leave, they had to sell. The deal included not only a high base fee but also performance-related add-ons.

He Yiran and Xuan Zhijian became available because the relegated Changchun Yatai needed to recoup funds, with the duo bringing in at least 12 million RMB for the club. Compared to He Yiran, who started four games at the U23 Asian Cup, Xuan Zhijian, though not a participant, also benefited from this boom, having already secured a starting spot in the CSL last season.

With few U23 internationals entering the market, clearly unable to meet the demand of CSL clubs vying for new talent, the value of even younger potential stars has skyrocketed accordingly.

19-year-old goalkeeper Yao Haoyang was a key player for Tongliang Long's promotion last season. This year, the club bought out this promising star from Hubei Youth Star, with Transfermarkt showing a fee as high as 7 million RMB. Additionally, Hubei Youth Star sold 19-year-old right-back Sun Kangbo, who was on loan to Tieren in the latter part of last season, to Yingbo for 4 million RMB.

Evergrande Football School also received 1 million RMB each for the sales of Buniyamin (to Yuxi Yukun) and Liu Jiale (to Tongliang Long). These two newcomers, who haven't even played professional league football yet, saw their transfer fees rank within the top 15 of the winter window's domestic transfers. These substantial deals have shown the market value of local young talent in Chinese football. Professional clubs and academies dedicated to youth development are beginning to receive their deserved returns.

Beyond the high-profile expensive transfers, clubs have placed greater emphasis on newcomers this winter window. West Coast, Zhejiang, Tongliang Long, and others continue to prioritize a youth-oriented strategy.

Although West Coast sold Yang Xi and allowed Xu Bin to move abroad to Premier League's Wolves, they brought in six U23 or younger players this winter, with the youngest, Liu Zhicheng, turning 17 only at the end of March. Tongliang Long signed six U23 newcomers led by Yao Haoyang, including the loan of 20-year-old young forward Du Yuezheng from Marbella. Qingdao Hainiu signed 16-year-old Kuang Zhaolei from Spain's Lleida, while promoted club Tieren secured the signing of U20 young center-back Zheng Jiaping, who was naturalized from Belgium. The return of these overseas-based youngsters has also sparked heated discussion among media and fans.

For Chinese football's pool of potential newcomers, this winter window has been a long-awaited spring.