As far as statements of intent go, the forking out of more than $277 million on transfers this January by China’s top football clubs was a pretty big one.

Over the past four days you will have read about Chelsea star Ramires’s move to Jiangsu Suning for $51 million, Gervinho’s switch from Roma to Hebei China Fortune for $28 million and Colombia international Fredy Guarin swapping Internazionale for Shanghai Shenhua for $18 million.

Today another Colombian star, Jackson Martinez, joined them, linking up with Guangzhou Evergrande for $65 million. Guangzhou has a knack for out-doing its competition, on and off the pitch.

Martinez, who seems like he's been linked with Arsenal for longer than the Gunners have been chasing the Premier League title, left an Atletico Madrid outfit challenging for the La Liga.

His move takes the total spend to more than $95 million above what the Premier League spent. And with another Colombian, Falcao, expressing a desire to join the growing number of star players who call China home, that amount is set to swell further.

Here is the pick of the bunch who call the Chinese Super League home.

Tim Cahill, Shanghai Shenhua

Evergreen Socceroos star Cahill is one of seven Australians playing in China, having recently been joined by Michael Thwaite, James troisi, Ryan McGowan, Trent Sainsbury and Alexander Jovanovic. Since linking up with Shanghai Shenua from New York Red Bulls last year, arguably Australia’s greatest football export has consolidated his reputation for crunch goals, netting 11 important ones in his 28 games.

Jackson Martinez, Guangzhou Evergrande

The Colombian striker appeared destined for a move to the Premier League at the start of the season – short odds on a London club – having blasted 67 goals from 89 appearances for Porto. While Gunners manager Arsene Wenger was working out how to sign more play-makers, Atletico Madrid swooped, adding Martinez to its impressive collection of strikers. Barely halfway through a campaign in which his team has excelled but he has struggled to adapt to the greater technical level, Martinez is off again, joining reigning CSL champion Guangzhou Evergrande.

Ramires, Jiangsu Suning

The UEFA Champions League winner and Brazil regular joins ambitious Jiangsu Suning at arguably the peak of his career. In seasons past a player of Ramires’s quality may have squeezed another season or two out at Chelsea, before heading to Asia via a stint in the MLS. That pattern appears to be changing, with China’s financial might attracting players much closer to the peak of their footballing powers.

Paulinho, Guangzhou Evergrande

Still wondering why Paulinho can’t get a run at Spurs? It’s probably because for the past season he’s been bossing the Evergrande midfield. Paulinho’s headed goal lifted his club past Club America into the semi-final of the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup, where it was promptly bundled out by Barcelona. The dynamic central midfielder counts countrymen Alan Carvalho and Ricardo Goulert among his team-mates, along with manager Luis Felipe Scolari. 

Diego Tardelli, Shandong Luneng

Tardelli’s skill and speed coming out of the midfield have produced their share of goals throughout a career that has seen him traverse four continents and spend a decent amount of time in the Brazil national team set-up. Tardelli swapped the Campeonato Brasileiro for China last year, linking up with Shandong Luneng, which he helped pilot to third. 

Kleber, Beijing Guoan

From 2011-2015 Kleber enjoyed a fruitful stint at Porto and was capped twice by the Brazil national team.  At 25 years-of-age he is the face of a younger generation of players good enough to represent their national team, who have opted to take the good money on offer in China rather than slug it out in Europe.

Fredy Guarin, Shanghai Shenhua

An established starter at Serie A giant Internazionale, Guarin’s capture represents a coup for Shanghai Shenhua, where he will link up with Socceroos star Cahill. Big for a playmaker, Guarin likes to run with the ball, using his hulking frame and positional sense to create havoc in the defence. He’s been likened to Yaya Toure which is probably why a host of Premier League clubs have been linked with him in recent seasons. 

Gervinho, Hebei China Fortune

Is it mere coincidence that just weeks after Rudi Garcia was sacked as Roma manager, the player he’s signed on three different occasions – Gervinho – also headed for the exit door? The Ivorian is a classic confidence player who thrives in the fast-breaking attacking game espoused by Garcia. If used correctly at promoted CSL club Hebei China Fortune, Gervinho could form a lethal attacking partnership with his new striker partner, Brazilian Edu.

Demba Ba, Shanghai Shenhua

It seems a lifetime ago that Demba Ba signed for Chelsea after tearing it up for two seasons at Newcastle United. His stint at Stamford Bridge was a splinter-in-backside-filled one and a year later he was off to Besiktas in the Turkish Super Lig. He restored confidence and his reputation with 18 goals from 29 games, before linking up with Cahill at Shanghai Shenhua. He only played in 11 games but his six-goal haul showed just how lethal he can be.

Asamoah Gyan, Shanghai SIPG

Ghana star Asamoah Gyan blazed a trail by leaving Sunderland in his prime for UAE club Al Ain, where the money was good, but his form was better. In his first season at the club, Gyan scored 22 goals in 18 games. From 2012 to 2015, having made his move permanent, the 30 year-old found the back of the net 68 times in 56 games. That’s exactly the type of yield you want from your marquee and Shanghai SIPG will be hoping Gyan can find top form this season.