Beijing Guoan have finally announced the signing of Cedric Bakambu from Villarreal despite the striker already scoring for the Chinese club.
The Congolese international rescinded his contract with the Yellow Submarine on 17 January yet his new club had not announced any deal despite playing and scoring in the Chinese Super League.
The deal had been held up due to a tax issue, which means Beijing have effectively had to pay the fee twice – increasing the fee from €40m (of which Villarreal received) to €80m.
A new rule introduced by the Chinese government last year put a 100% tax on foreign imports whose transfer fee was in excess of €6m.
Bakambu joined Villarreal from Turkish outfit Bursaspor in 2015 and went on to score 47 goals in 105 appearances for the Yellow Submarine.
The deal is more expensive than Arsenal’s signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Liverpool’s move for Naby Kieta, making Bakambu the most expensive African player of all time.
