BANGKOK — If the Chinese Super League was not the hottest soccer destination outside Europe before this summer transfer window opened, it is now. The infusion of big name players and world famous coaches has gathered speed, and attendances continue to climb along with the league’s international profile. The big stars seem to come and go, but the spending continues.

Shanghai S.I.P.G., coached by former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson, broke the Asian transfer record in July to sign Asamoah Gyan, the captain of Ghana’s World Cup team, from Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates, spending over $20 million. City rivals Shenhua spent what was believed to be around $16 million to sign former Chelsea striker Demba Ba while Guangzhou Evergrande, going for a fifth straight title and now coached by Luiz Felipe Scolari, brought in the Brazilian internationals Paulinho and Robinho.

The Sept. 12 clash between first-place Shanghai S.I.P.G. and second-place Guangzhou should be crucial in the title race and adds a fresh chapter to an intriguing coaching rivalry. While in charge of England, Eriksson was eliminated from three successive international tournaments at the quarterfinal stage by Scolari — at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, the former with Brazil the latter with Portugal, and the 2004 European Championships. Depriving Scolari of a fourth straight win over him and perhaps Guangzhou of a fifth straight title would be a major result for the Swede and Shanghai.

The high-profile international signings strengthen the top Chinese clubs, which can now compete with their Japanese and South Korean counterparts in the Asian Champions League. But China still struggles to match the continent’s best national teams. On Aug. 2, a full strength China team playing at home in Wuhan lost 2-0 to an experimental South Korean team; China has defeated its neighbor just once in 29 meetings.