Two-time Asian champions Guangzhou FC, once the dominant force in Chinese football, went into decline after its owners, developers China Evergrande, were forced to limit funding after the government banned borrowing.
China’s draconian zero-COVID policy only increased the challenges for Chinese clubs.
The talent has moved from the CSL to the Saudi Pro League, with the competition’s leading scorers – Al Nasr’s Andersen Talisca, Al Ittihad’s Abderrazak Hamdallah and Al Hilal’s Odion Ighalo – all of whom have previously played in China.
Saudi Arabia has significant ambitions with the country due to host the 2027 Asian Cup, launching a bid to host the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup.
The moves came after China was forced to give up the rights for the 2023 Asian Cup last year as there was no end to the zero-COVID policy at that time.
Although restrictions were finally eased last month in a dramatic U-turn, football in China has suffered greatly.
With new dogmatic Saudi Arabia now focused entirely on offering the oil-financed rich, the luster of Chinese football has almost disappeared.