Martinez joins CSL champs in 42m deal

Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande smashed China's transfer fee record on Wednesday when they announced a deal to secure Atletico Madrid's unsettled Colombian striker Jackson Martinez for 42 million euros ($46 million).

Martinez, 29, is the latest Europe-based player to move to the cashed-up Chinese Super League (CSL) and was described as a "goal poacher" and "fox in the box" in a Chinese-language statement on the club's website.

The purchase broke the week-old Chinese record fee of 28 million euros, paid by Jiangsu Suning to acquire Brazilian midfielder Ramires from Chelsea.

It lifted the CLS's total spending during the current transfer window to 203.9 million euros, according to website transfermarkt which tracks commercial dealings in the sport, second only to the English Premier League.

Atletico bought Martinez last year from FC Porto where he had scored an impressive 92 goals in 133 games, but he struggled to establish himself in Spain, scoring just two goals in 15 La Liga appearances.

In the past, the highest-profile international signings by Chinese clubs tended to be aging stars in their 30s nearing the end of their playing days. But many of those bought in the current transfer window have been in their late 20s.

Factoring in the top two levels of the sport, Chinese clubs have so far spent 252.7 million euros in the current transfer period - which runs until February 26 in China - while English clubs splashed out 295.1 million euros before the European window closed Monday, according to transfermarkt.

The second-tier China League One ranked ahead of the Bundesliga in Germany, Spain's Primera Division and France's Ligue 1 for spending.

On Sina Weibo, many criticized the high cost of signing Martinez, but the most popular comments were from fans who defended Evergrande's move.

"Seeing some people saying it's not worth it, I think it's overdone," wrote one user.

"I wonder if you guys watch football at all? You're all displeased with Martinez? Chinese fans' demands are really high now!"

Another wrote that China's billionaires were "playing a big game of chess" with their soccer investments.