18th February, 2016
Former Inter Milan striker Obafemi Martins is leaving Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders for China’s Shanghai Shenhua, according to a statement on his Twitter account.
The 31-year-old, who has also played for Newcastle United and Birmingham in England and VfL Wolfsburg in Germany, will join up with former Chelsea and Newcastle striker Demba Ba at the Chinese Super League (CSL) club.
“After significant reflection, I have decided to join Shanghai Shenhua FC of the CSL,” Martins tweeted on Thursday.
Thanks to all who made these last three years an amazing experience. Seattle has a special place in my heart 💚💙 pic.twitter.com/qg3XxYRzbK
— OBA MARTINS (@Obafemimartins) February 18, 2016
He joins a host of high-profile foreign imports to have relocated to China in the past few weeks, including Ivorian striker Gervinho, Brazilian midfielders Alex Teixeira and Ramires, and Colombian striker Jackson Martinez.
Here is Martins emotional farewell tweet to Seattle Sounders fans as he bows out for what he calls a ‘new challenge’ in China;