20 of the best foreign players to have played in the Chinese Super League

10 – Hulk

The Brazilian is off to a good start in China

Givanildo Vieira de Sousa, better known as Hulk, is currently playing in China for Shanghai SIPG. The Brazilian is quite solidly built for a footballer, but he was given the nickname because of his resemblance to actor Lou Ferrigno, who played the character of the incredible Hulk in a TV show during the 1970s. He started his career in Brazil with Esporte Clube Vitoria and then went to Japan on loan with second division teams Consadole Sapporo and Tokyo Verdy. The winger made a move to FC Porto in 2008, where he established himself as a regular first-team starter. Hulk struck 54 goals in 99 outings for the club and made a name for himself there, as he was named in the Top Ten Rising Stars list by UEFA.

In September 2012 the winger signed for Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg. He spent four years there, winning the domestic league title with them, and his performances in the Champions League earned him a spot in UEFA’s top eleven players in the 2015/16 Champions League group stage. In July 2016 the 30-year-old transferred to Shanghai SIPG in a move worth £47.43m. Owing to an injury, he has only made two appearances for the club, scoring twice.