Cedric Bakambu joins Beijing Guoan from Villarreal as DR Congo star becomes world’s most expensive African player

CEDRIC BAKAMBU has become the most expensive African footballer of all time after completing a £65million move to Beijing Guoan from Villarreal.

The Chinese Super League side met Bakambu’s release clause in January.

AFP

But the deal has only just gone over the line after Beijing Guoan were forced to pay a super tax to Chinese authorities.

Rules state that clubs must pay 100 per cent tax on new signings, but the Far East out managed to negotiate a discount which saved them £5m.

They had argued that meeting Bakambu’s release clause technically made him a free agent, and therefore no tax payment was required.

But with the 26-year-old already training with his new club for the last month, Beijing Guoan agreed to pay a reduced fee in order to make the deal official.

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AFP

DR Congo international Bakambu now becomes the most expensive African player of all time.

The record was previously held by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after his £56m move from Borussia Dortmund to Arsenal in January.

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Bakambu will now be hoping to make a good impression at his new club after penning a four-year contract.

He scored 46 times in 101 appearances for Villarreal and could set the Chinese Super League alight if provided with the right service on the pitch.

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EPA