Socceroos Robbie Kruse and James Holland have signed for Chinese Super League club Liaoning Whowin.
The twin transfers are yet to be officially confirmed but agent Ante Alilovic announced via Twitter on Wednesday that Kruse and Holland have agreed to terms with the club.
Kruse joins from Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen while Holland played his last game for Adelaide United last weekend.
Liaoning reportedly paid a EUR500,000 ($A710,000) fee to Leverkusen for Kruse with another undisclosed sum owed to Adelaide for Holland’s services.
It’s not known what the deals mean for Dario Vidosic and Michael Thwaite, the two Australians currently contracted to Liaoning Whowin.
But it’s likely the pair will be released to make way for Kruse and Holland, with Vidosic previously linked to a move elsewhere in Asia and Thwaite to a return to the A-League.
The moves were nearly derailed because of changes to the CSL’s foreign player quota system earlier this week – in particular, the scrapping of the ‘4+1’ rule that opened up a niche for Australian players in China.
Three other Socceroos – Ryan McGowan (Henan Jianye), Trent Sainsbury (Jiangsu Suning) and Apo Giannou (Guangzhou R&F) – currently play in the CSL, while Matthew Spiranovic’s Hangzhou Greentown was relegated from the top tier at the end of last season.
Waz
Guest
The players do, big wages. The Chinese do, more overseas players to boost their comp which is already exploding. Adelaide do because they lose a player that wasn't working out and gain a transfer fee, win-win right there lol
Evan Askew
Guest
How I wish Kruse had not got that ACL Knee injury in 2014. At that stage in his first season he had had 20 appearances across all competitions with 3 goals. He was not starring week in and week out but he was playing regularly and contributing for a big Club in a big league that was in the champions league. That injury combined with the Achilles injury has severely curtailed the career of someone who in my opinion is our most talented player.
Franko
Guest
Adelaide United if there's a transfer fee, Holland was underperforming. Anyone know what the fee was? I saw Kruse was E500k
AZ_RBB
Guest
In other AFC news. Defending ACL champions Jeonbuk Hyundai have been disqualified from the 2017 edition of the tournament for match fixing. Adelaide was grouped with them but will now face Jeju instead.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Who wins with this deal?