Despite the recent sharp drop in investment in the Chinese Super League, its revenue is still not to be underestimated, enough to compete with some of the international leagues, attracting a lot of foreign aid by profit. In an interview with Danish media outlet Bold, Changchun Yatai's foreign defender Okore confessed that his primary motivation for choosing to come to China to play soccer was the pursuit of high income, and that compared to Europe, the salary level here is significantly higher.
"In China, I was paid an incredibly high salary." Okore confessed, "It's a world away from what I was earning in Europe. Of course, apart from money, other conditions are quite attractive. For that matter, I am very happy with my current living situation. I would say that being a Danish player entails a high tax burden in Europe, whereas my income in China is far more than going."
So how much does a foreigner actually earn in China? Okore said, "I value the experience of the game, but money is equally important. If you can get paid more while enjoying your soccer, why not? The salaries in China are very attractive to many players. Of course, the pay varies from player to player, depending on the level at which the player is playing. In my case, the salary in China could be 5 to 10 times or even up to 20 times higher than in the past. But I can't disclose the exact amount."
Okore, 31, already has a lot of seniority in soccer. Before coming to China, he played in Denmark and England for many years. Apparently, his earnings at Changchun Yatai have far exceeded those of the past. If, as Okore says, a European player in the Chinese Super League can earn up to 20 times what he used to earn, then it is easy to understand why foreigners are still eager to get offers from the Chinese Super League, even in the midst of its wage arrears problem.