Chinese club Shandong Luneng sign Graziano Pelle from Southampton
Southampton striker Graziano Pelle has joined Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng for £13m.
A statement on Southampton’s website read: “Everyone at Southampton Football Club would like to thank Graziano for his efforts during his time at St Mary’s and wish him well for the future.”
#SaintsFC can confirm @GPelle19 has joined Chinese club Shandong Luneng for an undisclosed fee. Read more: https://t.co/nj7xT6QHtz
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 11, 2016
Pelle, 30, joined the Premier League side from Feyenoord in 2014 and scored 30 goals in 81 appearances.
He made his Italy debut while playing for Southampton and was part of their Euro 2016 squad, scoring twice.
Pelle is the third player to leave the Saints this summer, after midfielder Victor Wanyama joined Tottenham and Liverpool signed forward Sadio Mane.
Former AZ Alkmaar and Parma forward Pelle joins ex-Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse at Shandong, who are by former Fulham manager Felix Magath.
Saints, meanwhile, are closing in on the signing of Bayern Munich midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who is having a medical before a reported £12.8m move.
