$100 Million Budget! Tianjin Jinmen Tiger Gear Up for a Major Winter Splash with a “Strong & Powerful” Signing—Double Home Venues Next Season Set to Excite

Last season, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger once again finished sixth in the league. For a club that operates with a relatively modest model, that result was more than respectable—and arguably the best proof of how stable the team has become. Looking ahead to next season, however, the squad is set to undergo noticeable changes, with the club preparing to bring in several new faces during the winter transfer window. That naturally raises the question many fans care about most: How will the money be spent, and what kind of players will be signed?

According to a Tianjin beat reporter, the club’s overall investment for the new season will remain around RMB 100 million. There will be no extra spending spree, but also no major cutbacks—a level of financial steadiness that already feels rare in the current CSL environment.

The budget may be the same, but the recruitment logic is shifting. The biggest spotlight is on the foreign striker position. When reports first emerged about Ademi’s departure, plenty of observers assumed Tianjin would simply look for another technical wide attacker to replicate the approach they’ve used in recent years. But based on what’s currently known, Jinmen Tiger clearly aren’t planning to repeat the old formula.

Instead of finding a like-for-like replacement, the club is targeting a true penalty-box No. 9—a center forward whose primary job is to score inside the box. At 1.73m, Ademi could be at a disadvantage in certain matches, especially when opponents sit deep, tighten space, and turn games into physical battles. The coaching staff, led by Yu Genwei, has been well aware of this limitation. Rather than continuing to rely on delicate wing play, the idea now is to sign a striker who can hold off center backs, create chaos in the area, and win duels under pressure.

In other words, Tianjin want the kind of forward who, simply by standing up front, makes opposing defenses uncomfortable.

A reference point often mentioned is the “strong and powerful” striker profile—similar to Beijing Guoan’s Fabio. This type of forward doesn’t need excessive flair. With size, strength, and direct running, they can produce simple but highly effective attacking patterns. Tianjin’s new foreign signing direction appears to be moving closer to that practical template, rather than focusing on intricate, technical combinations out wide.

Change isn’t limited to foreign players. The domestic side of the squad also needs adjustment—especially in defense. Yang Zihao’s departure is widely seen as essentially confirmed. He made 26 league appearances last season and, while not an undisputed starter, played a valuable role in the rotation. With his contract expiring and no renewal agreement reached, it ultimately comes down to real-world factors: the club has a strict budget ceiling, and the player has his own career plans. Yang is expected to join Yunnan Yukun next season, marking a fresh chapter for him.

As for how Tianjin will fill the gap, the club isn’t dragging its feet. Several domestic recruitment options are already on the table. The approach may vary—some could be direct signings, others may involve evaluation first before a final decision. The pace isn’t rushed, but the intent is clear: be careful and be right. After experiencing recruitment missteps in past seasons, Jinmen Tiger are now more focused on reducing risk instead of relying on luck.

Looking back at the 2025 campaign helps explain that caution. 44 points and a sixth-place finish is a genuinely solid achievement—especially when many clubs with similar or even larger budgets are still battling relegation. Tianjin’s consistent upper-mid-table standing has strengthened confidence in Yu Genwei’s methods and given the club greater conviction to stick with its own judgment in the market.

Another notable storyline for the new season is the home setup. In 2026, Jinmen Tiger are expected to operate a dual home-stadium model, alternating between the Olympic Center Stadium (“Water Drop”) and TEDA Football Stadium. For fans, it’s both exciting and complicated—one venue is familiar, the other carries plenty of memories. Different pitches, different atmospheres, and different routines will test the team’s adaptability.

But if the new foreign striker truly becomes a reliable presence inside the box, then no matter which stadium hosts the match, the difference might not feel quite so big.