China's football revolution challenges the Premier League

Some of the world's biggest players are heading east amid a footballing gold rush in China - but how long will it last?

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Beijing Guoan Football Club fans cheer on their team during a match in the Chinese capital
(Image credit: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Its economy may be faltering but China's burgeoning football league is going from strength to strength and could soon rival the Premier League in terms of transfer spending.

China, long regarded as a footballing backwater, is now second in the 2016 spending table, above Spain and with only the mighty Premier League ahead of it, reports Sky Sports. Four of the five biggest transfer deals so far this year involve Chinese clubs - and their transfer window does not close until the end of the month.

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