The Chinese Super League is back, and for the first time, people outside China are paying attention. The recent record transfer window - where Chinese clubs outspent the Premier League in a month, making the owners look like they were playing Fantasy Football, only with real money - put the CSL into ­focus. But now that the season has kicked off, it ­appears that everyone wants to know what happens next.

The first round has proved to be a mixed bag for the new signings. Former Roma and Arsenal man Gervinho netted the winner for Hebei China Fortune in the season opener on Friday night. The Ivorian put his team 2-1 ahead ­after teammate Ersan Gulum drew them ­level, the Turkish defender cancelling out the own goal that had put Guangzhou R&F ahead. Ezequiel Lavezzi showed glimpses of his skill in a cameo after replacing the match winner.

Fittingly for this season, Saturday saw the most expensive CSL opening ­ceremony in history ahead of free-spending Jiangsu Suning's match against Shandong Luneng. The game finished 3-0 to the hosts with 200 million yuan signing Ramires opening the scoring before 360 million yuan record buy Alex Teixera netted a brace. The former Shakthar Donetsk man justified his price tag with two fine finishes in front of nearly 50,000 in Nanjing

It wasn't as good a weekend for the other big spenders, though. Reigning champions and favorites to lift the title for the sixth year in a row, Guangzhou Evergrande, lost away to Chongqing Lifan. Despite 300 million yuan striker Jackson Martinez getting on the scoresheet in the southwestern municipality, the Colombian's debut goal was consigned to consolation thanks to two goals for the hosts from forward Fernandinho. The Brazilian celebrated making his loan move permanent in the last transfer window by scoring after a 70-yard solo run from the edge of his own box for his first and another dribble from halfway for his winner.

Big-name signings being overshadowed by less-fancied foreigners was the theme for the opening weekend. Tim ­Cahill, who was unceremoniously dumped by Shanghai Shenhua, endeared himself to his new team Hangzhou Greentown with a decisive penalty in their 2-1 win over Changchun Yatai. Meanwhile, the Australian's former club drew 1-1 against CSL new boys Yanbian Fude - a late Demba Ba penalty cancelling out Korean Ha Tae-Kyun's opener.

Elsewhere, Shenhua's city rivals Shanghai SIPG lost to Henan Jianye. Last season's runners-up failed to a debut goal from former Heart of Midlothian man Osman Sow, while in the other game this weekend it was Liaoning Whowin who won away at Shijiazhuang Everbright. Another debutant, this time Congolese defender Assani Lukimya-Mulongoti, proving decisive..

Money was well spent, for the most part, and while the biggest names have not all had debuts to match, the CSL's first round has proved of good value to those now paying attention.

The author is a Shanghai-based writer. jmawhite@gmail.com