Tianjin Teda, a professional football club competing in the Chinese Super League, had recently completed a Chinese player transfer record of $10.6 million to acquire star midfielder Sun Ke from Jiangsu Sainty, as reported by China Daily. The transaction was the most expensive transfer for any local footballer in the history of Chinese football.

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The 25-year-old Sun is also a mainstay of Team Dragon, or the Chinese national football team, who crushed Bhutan, 6-0, during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifiers in Thimpu earlier this month.

Sainty disclosed in their Weibo account that the deal was completed after a "three-side discussion." The club also said that it was appreciative of the midfielder's contributions and the team wishes him good luck moving forward.

Meanwhile, Teda announced that Sun will start playing for the squad on June 22, when the transfer window is activated. The Tianjin team also noted that 5-foot-10 right winger will be under contract for five years (up to 2020) and will be paid about $1.2 million per year, as per Xinhuanet.

Until that time, the record for a completed Chinese player transfer was $8 million when Sun's fellow national team midfielder Yu Hai was acquired by Shanghai SIPG from Guizhou Renhe last March.  

Sun is currently one of the most coveted Chinese Super League players after his superb performance in this year's AFC Asian Cup held in Australia last January.

Sun scored a goal during China's 2-1 conquest of Uzbekistan and another two goals in the team's 2-1 victory over North Korea to top Group B competitions going into the quarterfinals of the said tournament, via Goal. Sun led the Chinese offensive attack in all of their group qualification matches to advance in the knockout stage unblemished.

Lóngzhī Duì eventually lost to the Australians in the quarters, but the team gained so much respect as a world-class competitor once again.

Reports continue to emerge that Teda is not finished with acquiring expensive and high-profile players for the coming season as the club allegedly targets Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder and Brazilian star Ronaldinho next.

TagsChina Super League, Chinese football rumors, FIFA World Cup Russia, Uzbekistan, North Korea