Hamsik ends celebrated Napoli spell with China move

Napoli's record holder for most appearances has played his final match for the club.

Marek Hamsik's speculated move to the Chinese Super League has come to fruition, with Napoli confirming the Slovakian midfielder's transfer to Dalian Yifang on Thursday.

The 31-year-old's exit follows protracted negotiations that met an impasse last week, with the Serie A side claiming irregularities over the payment installments of the transfer fee.

"First I have to apologize with you blue fans: I wanted, I hoped, I dreamed of saying goodbye embraced by your applause. You have always supported and loved me unconditionally in beautiful or difficult moments: I will always be grateful for this," Hamsik posted on his Instagram account.

With nearly a dozen years and 520 appearances in all competitions under his belt, Hamsik leaves Napoli as a club legend. Three times a member of the Serie A Team of the Year, Hamsik is also Napoli's all-time leading scorer. His 121 goals in all competitions are six better than Argentine deity Diego Maradona.

"Napoli - I got it tattooed on my skin, just like the first victory in the Italian Cup after 25 years. It's impossible to forget that party. It's impossible to forget the moment when I broke Bruscolotti's record or when I beat Maradona's goal record," Hamsik's statement continued.

Hamsik joined Napoli from Brescia in 2007, leading I Partenopei to a pair of Coppa Italia titles in 2011-12 and 2013-14, the club's only significant silverware since last winning Serie A in 1989-90.