Angela Rullo becomes first female football agent to complete transfer in China

The Italian sports lawyer is understood to have become the first female football agent to bring a player to the Chinese Super League.
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Italian football agent and lawyer Angela Rullo has become the first female to conduct a transfer in China.

Rullo, a bilingual sports lawyer based in London, facilitated the transfer of 29-year-old forward Cephas Malele who completed his move to Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua on Tuesday.

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In 2016, the Chinese Super League made headlines with a series of expensive transfers that included Oscar, Hulk, and Marouane Fellaini. However, the league has experienced a decline in recent years due to regulations imposed by the Chinese Football Association, which require clubs to reduce the number of foreign players on the pitch.

In addition, the introduction of a football ‘tax’ in 2018 has forced clubs to curb their spending on significant transfer fees. Any club that spends more than £5m must pay the same amount to the Chinese Football Association.

Despite these challenges, Rullo believes that the quality of the league is beginning to improve. “From what I saw in Shanghai, the facilities and infrastructure are of Premier League standard,” she told LondonWorld. “Even though the effects of the pandemic slowed things down a little bit, I’m sure the level will still be high.”

“Chinese football experienced an unprecedented boom a few years ago when many stars of European football joined the Super League,” said Rullo.

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“The names of players who played for Shenhua alone include Drogba, Anelka, and Tevez! The arrival of such high-level players, coaches, and sporting directors only helped to increase the quality of the league and local players.”

“I believe that I’m the first female agent to conclude a transfer to China, and I have to say that I was received very well. I look forward to going back.”