Alex Teixeira completes €50M transfer from Shakhtar to Chinese Super League

Alex Teixeira is the latest player to call China home after Shakhtar Donetsk agreed to a €50-million transfer fee with Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning, the Ukranian team announced.

(Courtesy: Shakhtar Donetsk)

"Shakhtar thank Alex for the time spent in the team and wish him success at his new club," the team said in a brief statement.

Teixeira, who was heavily connected with a move to Liverpool in January, becomes the second major signing at Jiangsu Suning after the Chinese Super League team secured the services of Ramires from Chelsea for just over €30 million.

The 26-year-old revealed the transfer came about fairly quickly after his agent told him about Jiangsu Suning's interest and the team's gargantuan offer.

"I immediately wondered whether it would be good for me, my family, the club, and took the appropriate decision," Teixeira said in an interview on Shakhtar's website.

But he added that, despite the speed at which the deal transpired, he struggled with the prospect of leaving a team he represented for six seasons.

"Despite the fact that it all took place at a lightning speed, I would not say that it was very easy," he said. "I just had to respond quickly. But leaving the people with whom I have worked for so many years and who helped me grow, with whom I made friends is, of course, difficult. Thus is still on my mind."

Teixeira ends his career with Shakhtar with 89 goals during 223 appearances.