Nigerian striker, Obafemi Martins, has become the latest high-profile player to switch to the Chinese Super League after joining Shanghai Shenhua in an undisclosed deal on Saturday.
It is believed that the Chinese club will cough up a sizeable figure as transfer fee for the Nigerian, who has agreed to move to the Asian nation from the Pacific Northwest.
Martins had been initially linked to a return to the English Premier League and was heavily linked with struggling side, Aston Villa, before interests from the Chinese outfit surfaced last week.
Newcastle United and Sunderland were the other English top-flight clubs reportedly linked to the former Inter Milan man.
“An interesting offer from Villa was proposed. I was flattered but other things came up. There’s an interest from another Premier League team,” Martins had said of the interests from the English clubs.
The deal to join the money-spinning Chinese league turned out to be the other deal Martins spoke about though Sounders and Shenhua are yet to make official statements.
Martins joins the like of African players Asamoah Gyan and Gervinho currently playing in the Chinese Super League.
Last season, Martins scored 15 goals in 24 appearances for Major League Soccer (MLS) side Seattle Sounders.
