A day after Evergrande Group founder Xu Jiayin was sentenced to life imprisonment, the Evergrande Football School secured a restructuring lifeline, while his namesake school in his hometown quickly removed his name. On Aug. 21, the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court approved the bankruptcy reorganization of the Evergrande Football School, with Guangzhou Sport University named as the restructuring investor. Photos from the scene showed that the school's landmark "Evergrande" signage had been removed, and the new plaque of Guangzhou Sport University was already in place.
Founded in 2011, the Evergrande Football School covers nearly 1,000 mu (about 66 hectares) and features 48 professional football pitches, classroom buildings, dormitories, and other facilities. It was once certified as the world's largest full‑boarding football school. The school adopted a "5‑year domestic training + 5‑year overseas further study" model, and over 1,000 of its trainees have been selected for national teams at various levels, while more than 100 players have been sent to professional clubs in the Chinese Super League and beyond. Insiders said the successful restructuring brought in an investor with strong financial capacity, football industry resources, and educational development expertise – not only clearing debts and protecting creditors' rights, but also preserving the school's legal entity and its mature youth training system, making it a "win‑win" outcome for all parties involved.
Meanwhile, the "Jiayin No. 1 High School" in Xu Jiayin's hometown of Taikang County, Henan Province, quickly underwent a name change. The school, a local key high school once named after Xu due to his donation, had its prominent "Jiayin" signage covered by a red welcome banner at the school gate. The cover‑up is believed to be a precursor to its eventual removal, with the school reverting to its legal name, "Taikang County No. 1 Senior High School." Netizens commented: "It seems the school principal is quite wise."
The developments came after Xu Jiayin was sentenced on Aug. 20 by a Shenzhen court in a first‑instance trial on eight charges, including fund‑raising fraud, corporate bribery, and embezzlement. He received life imprisonment and confiscation of all personal property.
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