Looking back 6-7 years ago, Chinese capital once swept the European football scene, but now, a large number of Chinese owners have chosen to quit and are facing the embarrassing situation of not being able to adapt to the European football market. Championship side West Brom were dropped out by Chinese owner Lai Guochuan in this rotation, and American businessman Shilenpatel took over as the new owner of the club. Lai Guochuan acquired 88% of West Bromwich Albion's shares for 1.5 billion yuan, but his investment did not bring the team's brilliant performance, and finally went out of the tournament with a blood loss, becoming a member of the exit wave. In this article, we'll take a closer look at this shift, revealing the story and reality behind it.
Chinese owners have announced their withdrawal from European football, and West Brom FC has not been spared. Chinese billionaire Lai Guochuan bought an 88 per cent stake in West Brom in the summer of 2016, but the team went through a series of ups and downs before facing relegation. In the 2023-24 Championship season, West Brom finished in 5th place, before Lai Guochuan transferred the team to American businessman Shilenpatel. New boss Shilenpatel has said he is committed to leading the club back to the Premier League, and the deal also marks Lai's official farewell to West Brom.
Depth extension: The influx of Chinese capital has led to changes in the European football market, but over time, Chinese bosses have left the field one after another, leaving many mysteries. It will be interesting to see if the arrival of the new boss will bring new energy and opportunities to West Bromwich Albion. Lai's bumpy eight-year tenure at the helm of West Brom has also been a controversial one, with his performance in terms of team development and finances being questioned.
Lai entered English football in 2016 and became West Bromwich Albion. With a net worth of 24.6 billion yuan, he is expected to have high hopes and revitalize the team. However, Lai's investment and achievements were not as brilliant as expected. West Bromwich Albion had his time in charge, with a successful run to the Premier League, only to be relegated.
Details: During his time at the helm of West Bromwich Albion, Lai encountered a series of challenges and dilemmas. Although he was the first Premier League club owner from Chinese mainland, his low profile and mystery did not bring good fortune to the team. West Bromwich Albion's fate was like a roller coaster, once hitting the Premier League, but finally fell into the relegation quagmire for many years, which became a pain in the hearts of fans.
The takeover of American businessman Shilenpatel brought new hope and prospects for the future of West Bromwich Albion. Take 5The RMB400 million** acquired an 88% stake in the club and expressed his determination to bring the club back to the Premier League. The transfer marks Lai's official exit from West Bromwich Albion, and the arrival of a new boss has also given people more expectations for the team's future.
In-depth analysis: What changes will the team usher in as the new owner of West Br. Whether his commitment and future plans for the club can be realized has sparked widespread discussion and concern. It will be interesting to see whether Lai's departure will inject new impetus into West Brom and what kind of new atmosphere will be shown under the new leadership.
In the past, Chinese capital has emerged in the Premier League and the Championship, and a series of actions such as Xia Jiantong's acquisition of Villa, Guo Guangchang's Fosun International's acquisition of Wolves, and Gao Jisheng's family's acquisition of Southampton have caused a sensation. However, now that Xia Jiantong, Gao Jisheng, and Lai Guochuan have withdrawn one after another, only Guo Guangchang's Wolves are still the last piece of the puzzle for the Chinese holding of the Premier League.
Comprehensive review: The journey of Chinese capital at the helm of the Premier League is like a grand and magnificent journey, carrying countless passions and dreams. Now, the departure of Chinese bosses has cast an unpredictable shadow on this journey. The rise and silence of Chinese capital in the Premier League is not only a commercial investment, but also a football sentiment that crosses borders.
The exit of the Chinese owner has brought a new chapter to the West Brom club. Lai's bloody defeat marked the end of a saga in English football. The arrival of the American upstart Shilenpatel has opened a new journey for West Bromwich Albion. The ups and downs of Chinese capital in the Premier League make people wonder where the road of transnational football investment will go. What kind of stories will be unfolding in the future of football? All of this is worth waiting for.