One-time Tottenham target Axel Witsel follows Oscar to China as he agrees 'irresistible' deal with Tianjin Quanjian

On the move: Witsel is bound for Tianjin after leaving Zenit
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James Benge3 January 2017

One-time Tottenham target Axel Witsel has become the latest big-name to depart Europe for the Chinese Super League.

Former Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Witsel, who has also been linked to Juventus over recent months, will move to Tianjin Quanjian and will earn a reported £255,000-per-week.

Witsel admitted that he had been expecting to move to the Italian champions but that the lure of such a sizeable pay packet made China “irresistible”.

"It was a very difficult decision because on the one hand there was a huge, top club in Juventus, but on the other hand there was an irresistible offer for the future of my family," he told Tuttosport.

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The Belgian international joins the likes of Oscar and Carlos Tevez in moving to the Far East during the current window and will link up with former Brazil international Jadson at the newly-promoted side, who are managed by World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro.

Over five seasons at Zenit Witsel won just one Russian title but established himself as a key part of the Belgian squad. It remains to be seen whether a move away from Europe will hamper his prospects of getting into Roberto Martinez’s talented midfield.

In a statement on their club website the Russian giants said: “Zenit thanks Axel Witsel for his time spent in St. Petersburg and wishes him good luck at his new team.”

Witsel had long been of interest to Tottenham, who were willing to pay £17m for him during the summer of 2015, though Spurs did not firm up a move during the summer window.

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