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Oscar Reveals Behind-the-Scenes of Moving to China

Former Chelsea star Oscar opens up about his move to China at age 25, admitting he couldn't sleep for two days after seeing the staggering 6.7B baht offer.

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Inewgen
01 Sep 2026Source: Thairath Sport2 min read (0 views)
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Oscar Reveals Behind-the-Scenes of Moving to China

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

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  • Oscar decided to leave Chelsea to play in the Chinese Super League at just 25 years old.
  • He openly admitted to suffering from two sleepless nights after seeing the massive financial offer.
  • He earned a total salary over an 8-year period but never touched that money.
  • This high-profile transfer completely shifted the trajectory of his professional football career.

Major decisions in a professional footballer's career often come with fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, much like the case of Oscar, the former star midfielder for Chelsea. In the past, he shocked football fans worldwide by leaving the English Premier League to take on a new challenge in China when he was only 25 years old, a prime age for European football.

soccer stadium floodlights night match crowd no team crest

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Back then, the transfer did not stem from internal club conflicts or poor form, but rather from a lucrative financial proposal submitted by a Chinese Super League club. It was a figure too large to turn down for a young player looking to secure his family's long-term future, even though the move meant stepping away from the spotlight of top-tier European leagues.

25Age at move
8Years in China
6.7Billion Baht

Oscar himself revealed the truth behind that transfer, stating that the wages and total compensation accumulated over the 8-year period reached a staggering 6.7 billion baht. Such a massive sum caused him to lose sleep for two consecutive full days as he weighed his dreams of high-level European football against immense financial security.

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โฆษณา

"เงินเดือน 8 ปีไม่เคยแตะ"

Oscar

What is even more fascinating than the staggering salary is Oscar's financial management. He admitted that throughout his 8 years playing in China, he never touched a single satang of that salary, letting the entire sum accumulate. Meanwhile, his daily living and other expenses were managed through separate funds or alternative sources, reflecting unexpected financial discipline from a superstar footballer.

Oscar's move to China back in 2017 marked a major turning point reflecting the golden era of the Chinese Super League, when clubs poured huge sums of money to attract top talent from Europe. Although policies later shifted due to financial troubles among club owners, Oscar's case is still remembered as one of the most impactful transfer deals in modern football history.

Source: Thairath Sport

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