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

6 – Nicolas Anelka

Anelka has played for a whole host of clubs all around the world

Nicolas Sebastien Anelka started his senior career at Paris Saint-Germain at the age of 16 years. He would go on to don the jerseys of a total of twelve different clubs during his career. From PSG he made a move to Arsenal and then to Real Madrid. The Frenchman then returned to PSG, where after one season he was loaned out to Liverpool. He then went on to play at Manchester City, Fenerbahce and Bolton Wanderers before arriving at Chelsea. Stamford Bridge was the only place where Anelka stayed for more than 2 years. Chelsea was also the only club for which the striker made more than 100 appearances. He scored 38 goals in 125 appearances between 2008 and 2012.

Anelka joined Shanghai Shenhua from Chelsea on a free transfer on 1st January 2012, claiming that he did not receive any good enough offers from any clubs to stay within Europe. He played at the club for one season, scoring 3 goals in 22 appearances, and also played a coaching role. On departing Shanghai Shenhua he had a loan spell at Juventus before playing for West Bromwich Albion and then Mumbai FC. Anelka’s aggregate transfer fees throughout his career comes to a staggering total of £108.26m.