Evergrande has been front and center of Chinese soccer over the past three years; especially since winning last year's Asian Champions League trophy.
Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Football Club took a significant step on Friday after listing its shares on the New Third Board.
President Xi Jinping's show of interest in soccer has boosted the prospects of the soccer market and prompted more investment at the grassroots level.
The Netherlands' renowned youth soccer training experts look set to help China produce its own future stars, with more Dutch coaches and junior programs to be imported to China.
As President Xi Jinping spent a day at Manchester on Friday, anticipation and excitement in the city grew as to what may come after his visit.
President Xi Jinping called for China and Britain to strengthen cooperation on soccer as he ended his four-day state visit to the United Kingdom.
President Xi Jinping visits the City Football Academy in Manchester, Britain on October 23, 2015.
For Chinese soccer fans, the Premier League is one of the most entertaining to watch. The popularity of the top-flight competition, known for head-to-head derbies, big-name players, free-spending clubs and showy WAGs, is self-evident in China, although currently not a single Chinese player is anywhere to be seen.
Evergrande held Gamba Osaka 0-0 in the second leg of the Asian Champions League semifinals to reach the finals with an aggregate 2-1 win.
Brazilian Paulinho marked his AFC Champions League debut in spectacular style with a stunning first-half free kick as former champions Guangzhou Evergrande took a huge step towards a return to the semifinals after winning Tuesday's quarterfinal first leg against Kashiwa Reysol 3-1 in Japan.
China's soccer reform demands the joint efforts of different parties, especially the market and society, which should take the onus of providing quality training to and cultivating young talents.
Given China's poor soccer performances for decades, the Chinese Football Association has gained as poor a reputation among domestic soccer fans as the country's soccer team has.
Soccer reform takes a major step forward with General Administration of Sport of China removing its grip on the Chinese Football Association.