Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel has become the latest big name player to join the Chinese Super League gold rush after leaving Chelsea for Tianjin Teda.
Mikel had a medical in the port city some 130 kilometres from Beijing on Thursday and the Asian Football Confederation confirmed the deal on Friday.
Mikel’s move comes on the day China’s leading sports governing body announces plans to cap the spending of the country’s super league clubs.
Nigeria international Mikel penned a letter to his “Chelsea family” and tweeted it to his followers on social media.
“To play in the Premier League, the best league in the world, is every professional player’s ambition,” said Mikel.
“But to play for Chelsea, to become part of the Chelsea family, to work with some of the best managers and players in the world, has truly been an honour…to everyone at Chelsea – goodbye, and thank you. “
“You will always be part of who I am..”
