Written by Han Bing For the new season, the CSL’s foreign player salary cap remains at 3 million euros pre-tax annually, while domestic players have a pre-tax cap of 5 million RMB. The total salary limit for foreign players is 10 million euros, increasing to 12 million euros if naturalized players are counted as foreign players. Compared to the Japanese and Korean leagues, the CSL’s top foreign player salaries are slightly higher than those in Japan and Korea, with most foreign player salaries falling within the same range. However, domestic player salaries are lower than those in Japan and Korea, reflecting the higher individual and league value of domestic players in those countries.

Foreign Player Top Salaries: CSL Still Ahead of Japan and Korea

In this season’s K1 League, the highest-paid foreign player is striker Kompanyo (Jeonbuk Hyundai), who transferred from Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, earning 1.5 million euros annually. Last season’s top earners, Lingard (FC Seoul, about 1.25 million euros) and Cecinia (Daegu FC, 1.2 million euros), follow closely. Tiago, Hernandez (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Duganjić, and Krimala (FC Seoul) earn around 1 million euros each. Although the K1 League has increased foreign player registration spots to six this season, only 6-7 players earn between 1 and 1.5 million euros. Lingard, the biggest name, confirmed his departure after this season, but the number and salary scale of top foreign players in next year’s K1 League are expected to remain stable.

In the J1 League, the highest-paid foreign players are the previous two-year Golden Boot winner Lopez (1.5 million euros), tied with last season’s Silver Boot winner Ceara (Kashima Antlers). Nagoya Grampus winger Mateus (1.25 million euros) and Danish striker Jørgensen (1.1 million euros) follow closely. Swedish forward Sörlin (Urawa Reds), Danish defender Schøltz (FC Tokyo), and Brazilian forwards Tiago (Urawa Reds) and Patrick (Vissel Kobe) all earn around 1 million euros. Kawasaki Frontale’s summer signings, forward Romanic and defender Uremović, were the summer window’s top picks (1.5 million euros), but both earn less than 800,000 euros annually. Top scorers like Latao (Sakura Osaka) earn less than 700,000 euros, and Elias (Kyoto Sanga) earns as low as 500,000 euros.

CSL’s top foreign players earn slightly more than those in Japan and Korea: Cresan (Shandong Taishan) earns 3 million euros, Kazayishvili (Shandong Taishan) and Leonardo (Shanghai Port) 2.5 million euros, Wesley (Shenzhen) 2 million euros, Mitrić (Zhejiang), Zeca (Shandong Taishan), André (Shanghai Shenhua), Felipe (Chengdu Rongcheng), Ngadeu (Beijing Guoan), and Malela (Dalian) earn between 1.5 and 1.8 million euros. Vital, Yusa (Shanghai Port), Teixeira, Manafa (Shanghai Shenhua), Gonzalo (Beijing Guoan), and Lopez (Shandong Taishan) earn over 1.2 million euros, with at least six other foreign players earning more than 1 million euros annually.

The CSL’s highest foreign player salary has reached the pre-tax cap of 3 million euros, double that of the highest-paid foreign players in Japan and Korea. About 10 foreign players earn more than 1.5 million euros, while each of the Japanese and Korean leagues has only one. More than 20 foreign players in the CSL earn over 1 million euros, compared to fewer than 10 in Japan and Korea. Although the CSL’s top foreign player salaries remain higher, the gap has dramatically shrunk from the peak spending era to a scale of about one million euros, placing them in the same range. Most CSL foreign players earn salaries comparable to those in Japan and Korea, generally in the several hundred thousand euros range.

Equal Treatment for Domestic and Foreign Players in Japan and Korea

In the 2024 K1 League, the top five highest-paid Korean domestic players are Park Jin-seop (converted salary about 5.8 million RMB), Lee Seung-yu, Kim Jin-su, Ulsan Hyundai defender Kim Young-gwon (7.2 million RMB), and goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo (7.4 million RMB). Newly transferred domestic stars like goalkeeper Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Hyundai, over 7 million RMB), defender Kang Sang-woo (Ulsan Hyundai), and Kim Jin-su (FC Seoul) earn over 6.5 million RMB. Players like Lee Dong-kyung, Yoon Jong-kyu (Ulsan Hyundai), Joo Min-kyu, Ha Chang-rae, Lee Myung-jae (Daejeon Citizen), Jung Seung-won, and Moon Seon-min (FC Seoul) earn no less than 5 million RMB, while Kim Young-bin, Kim Tae-hyun (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Jang Min-gyu (Jeju United), Ki Sung-yueng (Pohang Steelers), and Jung Seung-hyun (Ulsan Hyundai) are estimated to earn between 4 and 5 million RMB.

Top Korean domestic players generally earn between 600,000 and 900,000 euros, not far behind the highest-paid foreign players. Among the top 10 scorers, domestic players and foreign players each account for half. Lower-paid domestic players like Jeon Jin-woo, Lee Ho-jae, and Joo Min-kyu have even outscored the two highest-paid foreign players Kompanyo and Cecinia.

In Japan, domestic player salaries have surpassed those of foreign players. This season’s highest-paid J1 League player is 35-year-old domestic forward Yuya Osako (2.05 million euros), earning 500,000 euros more than top foreign players Lopez and Ceara. Following him are Muto Yoshinori (1.35 million euros), Sakai Gotoku (950,000 euros), Nagatomo Yuto, Usami Takashi (850,000 euros), Ienaga Akihiro, and Nishikawa Shusaku (800,000 euros). These high-paid domestic players are all at least 33 years old, with Nagatomo Yuto being the oldest at 39.

This season, over 60 players in the J1 League earn 500,000 euros or more, with more than 20 being domestic players. Among the top 16 earners, domestic players hold 7 spots, nearly evenly split. Although there is no limit on foreign players in the J1 League, clubs prioritize low-cost and practical foreign signings, giving domestic players more opportunities to compete, with only a small gap in individual ability between them and foreign players.

In the CSL, domestic players have a pre-tax salary cap of 5 million RMB (about 600,000 euros). Key national team players in the top five clubs can reach this cap, but their salaries are still 3-5 times lower than the highest-paid foreign players, showing a clear gap. However, apart from foreign players earning 1 million euros or more, most foreign players’ salaries are below the domestic salary cap, meaning top domestic players have chances to compete with mid- and lower-tier foreign players. Moreover, except for a few top domestic players, most domestic players in Japan and Korea earn less than 2 million RMB, similar to CSL’s main domestic players.

In both foreign and domestic player salaries, the CSL has entered a rational phase. A preliminary prospect of healthy competition between foreign and domestic players, similar to that in Japan and Korea, is emerging. This is essential for the league’s sustainable development and future outlook.