Maccabi Tel Aviv captain Eran Zahavi has signed a deal with Guangzhou worth $12.5 million.
The Chinese team will pay Maccabi Tel Aviv $8 million for the Israeli midfielder - the largest transfer fee ever paid to an Israeli team. Zahavi's former club, Hapoel Tel Aviv, will receive $2.5 million of the fee.
In three seasons with Maccabi, Zahavi scored 98 goals in 117 appearances including an all-time Israeli league record of 35 goals last season. He helped Maccabi complete a hat-trick of league titles in 2015 and last season his goals enabled the club to reach the group stage of the Champions League for the first time since 2003.
Zahavi said: "I want to say thank you to Maccabi's fans who welcomed me with a warmth and love from the first moment, which only grew over time.
"I love you all and promise to return one day.
"You will always have a special place in my heart and that will never change."
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