Mesut Ozil reportedly rejected the chance to earn £435,000 a week in the Far East before agreeing to put pen to paper on a contract extension with Arsenal.
The 29-year-old put an end to speculation over his uncertain future on Wednesday afternoon by signing a new three-and-a-half-year deal at the Emirates Stadium.
According to German outlet Sport Bild, however, the former Real Madrid midfielder was targeted by big-spending Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande earlier this month.
Ozil, who was free to discuss terms with foreign teams from the start of January, snubbed the offer - amounting to £22m a year - as he always intended to remain at Arsenal.
Guangzhou have also been tipped to make a move for Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale in the summer, having previously shown a rumoured interest in Ozil's new teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.