Zhu Yi: Fernandinho Does Not Occupy a Foreign Player Quota for Shanghai Shenhua; Delgado Still Enrolled as a Foreign Player

On July 11, Shanghai Shenhua officially announced the loan signing of Fernandinho. Zhu Yi, the administrator of Transfermarkt China, also addressed questions regarding Fernandinho’s registration status on social media.

According to Zhu Yi’s post on social media:

1. According to Chinese Super League rules, each team can register one naturalized player who has been a citizen for five years or is eligible to represent the Chinese national team as a domestic player. Fernandinho was registered as a domestic player at Shandong Taishan under this rule. Shanghai Shenhua had this quota unoccupied, and therefore, Fernandinho will be registered as a domestic player for Shanghai Shenhua, not occupying a foreign player quota.

2. With Fernandinho leaving Shandong Taishan, the team’s quota under this rule becomes vacant. Another naturalized player, Delgado, was already registered this year as a naturalized player occupying a foreign player quota. According to regulations, the registration and enrollment status of a naturalized player cannot change within the same season. Therefore, Delgado will continue to occupy a foreign player quota. He cannot take over the quota vacated by Fernandinho, nor does it result in an additional foreign player quota becoming available.

3. In the upcoming AFC Champions League Elite League, Fernandinho will be considered a domestic player for Shanghai Shenhua. Delgado can also enroll as a domestic player for Shandong Taishan in the AFC Champions League Elite League, unaffected by his registration status in the Chinese league. However, the AFC Champions League Elite League does not limit the number of foreign players that can be enrolled, so there is little difference between domestic and foreign players.