Shenhua Goes All-In! Three-Year Big-Money Deal Secures a 23-Goal Star as Shanghai, Beijing, Shandong & Yunnan’s “Big Five” Chase the Title—Chengdu City Fights to Stay Up

Shanghai Shenhua have come painfully close to the CSL title for two straight seasons, and the frustration is real. This year, the squad’s shortcomings were exposed at key moments: a thin rotation that forced the team to rely on largely the same XI, slow in-game adjustments, wasteful finishing up front, and unreliable goalkeeping when it mattered most. Some fans even joked that “if Shenhua had Chen Wei, they’d already be champions.” It’s exaggerated—but it also reflects a broader point: the current options between the posts haven’t consistently looked like title-winning pieces.

Now, Shenhua are clearly signaling they’re done waiting.

Luis appears unlikely to stay, and the club is moving aggressively in the market. According to Brazilian outlet GE on December 16, Bahia’s attacking loanee Rafael Ratão is set to join Shanghai Shenhua for a reported €2 million transfer fee (around R$12.7 million). The report adds that Shenhua have offered Ratão a three-year contract, with both sides close to completing the deal.

Ratão, 30, spent the start of this year on loan at Cerezo Osaka. Across 44 appearances, he produced 23 goals and 4 assists—numbers that immediately stand out. While some supporters point out he has the occasional “head-scratcher” moment in his game, his output is hard to ignore. Looking at his career path, he fits the profile of a well-traveled striker who’s built his reputation on delivering wherever he goes—a classic “journeyman scorer,” and one Shenhua believe can help push them over the line.

Off the pitch, Shenhua have entered a break of just over three weeks. The team is scheduled to regroup after New Year 2026. From January 9 to January 27, they will hold a roughly three-week winter training camp in Haikou, with new faces expected to travel with the squad. After that, Shenhua will head overseas for another 20-day camp. This won’t be training-only—high-level warm-up matches are planned, using competitive games to accelerate fitness and sharpen match readiness.

Shenhua’s mission for next season is clear: another full-scale charge at the CSL trophy. But the title race itself is likely to look different. Shanghai Port and Beijing Guoan should remain in the championship conversation. Shandong Taishan, meanwhile, have finally concluded their contract situation with Choi Kang-hee’s team, and are expected to reset with renewed ambition—potentially continuing under Han Peng—as they aim to re-enter the title hunt.

Then there’s Yunnan Yukun, who are making noise in the winter window and could become a genuine wildcard. They finished eighth this season, appointed former Zhejiang coach Jordi Vinyals, and have been active on multiple fronts: foreign targets including Kleber and Kaio, plans to replace Henrique and Nene, and domestic links to proven names such as Deng Hanwen, Wei Shihao, Xu Xin, and Huang Zichang. Not everyone may arrive, but the intent is unmistakable.

On the other hand, Chengdu Rongcheng’s outlook is more uncertain. With Seo Jung-won’s contract extension on hold, and the possibility of key players leaving, their ability to stay in the title conversation next year could be seriously affected.