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A former Premier League winner with Chelsea has earned a crazy amount of money with a lucrative contract after moving abroad seven years ago.
The international star was part of the Blues side that won the Europa League in 2013, and league titles in 2015 and 2017 – but chose to leave England for financial reasons, and after falling out of favour at Stamford Bridge.
The timing of the star’s exit meant he was able to sign a lucrative £400,000-a-week contract in a growing Asian league, a deal which he extended just before a change in government rules meant future players coming into the league would not be so well paid.
And after growing up in poverty in Brazil, the handsome income from playing top-level football means that they are financially secure for life, despite interest from clubs in his homeland, as well as Europe.
He has won two titles with his new club – who slightly changed their name in 2021 – and their latest success earlier this year means they have reached the AFC Champions League Elite League stage for next season.
Former Chelsea star Oscar has made a crazy amount of money since swapping London for Shanghai seven years ago.
The Brazilian raised eyebrows when he chose to leave the Premier League for the Chinese Super League in 2016, when he was in the peak of his career at the age of 25.
But the star, who has always been honest about heading to the Asian league for financial security for his family, was able to join the top flight in China – and then sign a contract extension before rules changed, which would have limited his earning potential.
Oscar reportedly earns €24m (£20.8m) a year, and in December 2019, he renewed his contract for an extra five years, just before the rules changed.
In 2020, a salary cap for players was put in place, with foreign players only able to earn €3m (£2.7m) a year – but Oscar’s contract was exempt, as it was signed under the old rules.
In his seven years in China so far, he has earned a huge €168 million (£146.2m) in wages alone.
He currently earns about £400,000 a week for playing for Shanghai Port, the new name of Shanghai SIPG, the side he joined in 2016 in a £60m move from Chelsea.
Oscar has made 207 appearances for his Chinese club, scoring 61 goals, and helping them to win two Chinese Super League titles and one Chinese FA Super Cup so far – and he has one year left on his current contract, and could add to those trophies.
Carlos Tevez, Ramires, Alexandre Pato, Axel Witsel and Paulinho are among other names who were also drawn to the Chinese Super League – but the new financial limits mean that other players may be more reluctant to join.
Earlier this year, Oscar told Premier League Brasil that the Chinese offer – plus his struggles adjusting to a substitute role at Chelsea – meant he never regretted the chance to play in Asia, despite opportunities to return to Europe in the meantime.
Oscar said: ‘So I lost space in the team, the opportunity came to Shanghai and I embraced it. I have no regrets. I had a beautiful trajectory there, in my career I managed to do everything I dreamed of and I am also very happy here.’
‘As I left Europe at the age of 25, I always had an offer to return.
‘But nothing that got too close or that I really put my foot down to go back to. As I played for Chelsea for five years, I fulfilled my dream of playing for a big club in Europe.’
The winger joined Chelsea from Brazilian side Internacional, making 144 appearances for the Blues before his exit.
With Shanghai Port, he was part of the side that won the 2023 edition of the Chinese Super League, qualifying his team for the AFC Champions League Elite League stage.
His contract runs until the end of the season, which will leave Oscar either to accept a lower wage in China, or move on to another challenge.