Marko Arnautović joins Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG

Austrian forward Marko Arnautović has completed his switch to the Chinese Super League by joining Shanghai SIPG for a reported fee of £22.4m.

The former West Ham attacker stayed despite expressing his want to leave the Premier League side in January, however, after finding out that there was new interest from the CSL this month, the 30-year-old decided it would be best if he departed the English side.

Arnautović joins former Chelsea midfielder Oscar, as well as Hulk, Elkeson and Odil Akhmedov as a non-Chinese born player playing for the Super League side.

Last season’s situation saw the former Stoke City player sign a contract extension which extended his stay at the London Stadium. Before then he was contracted until the summer of 2022.

The club originally had told the Wien born player to honour his contract considering his extension with the Hammers was agreed back in January this year. This came after the London based club turned down an offer of £19.7 million.

SIPG are the holders of the Chinese top flight title after winning the league last year, but they’re currently third behind Beijing Sinobo Guoan and Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao.

Austrian attacker Arnautović played 65 times in two years scoring 22 goals after joining from Stoke City, handing in a transfer at the Staffordshire based club.

The Hammers have turned their attention to Uruguay international Maxi Gómez, are said to be willing to pay the £44.5 million release clause for the Celta Vigo man, however, they face stiff competition from La Liga side Valencia.

West Ham will be travelling to China later this month for the Premier League Asia Trophy, with games taking place in Nanjing and Shanghai. Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City will be competing in this tournament.

Manuel Pellegrini will face his former side in Manchester City on the 17th in the first semi-final.

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